A day after the Devendra Fadnavis government allocated portfolios to its nine best men, Congress took a potshot at the BJP leadership by questioning the latter's choice of Eknath Khadse to head the minority development department. Congress which is now seeking to play the role of the major opposition party claimed that Khadse neither has any hold among Muslims nor the acumen to work for the betterment of the community.

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State Congress spokesperson Al Nasser Zakaria said, “Khadse doesn't deserve the portfolio at all. He has no inclination and experience to serve the community. Pasha Patel or any other Muslim leader would have served the purpose better, besides ensuring confidence among the community.”

Patel was the only Muslim candidate fielded by BJP this Assembly election from Ausa (Latur) constituency. However, Patel has lost the polls and BJP has no Muslim MLA in Maharashtra. The Congress argues that Patel or any other Muslim leader could have been brought through Vidhan parishad.

Salim Alware, chairperson of the Khula Manch, an umbrella body of a dozen Muslim organisations, welcomed the move and lauded Khadse for his efforts in raising Waqf issues in the past. “We have full confidence in Khadse as he has been raising waqf and other issues of the community when he was the opposition leader. However, we do demand that BJP must also include a Muslim leader into the cabinet.”

However, some Muslim leaders said that it didn't really matter who headed the department as the previous Muslim ministers failed to do anything substantial for the community.

Shabbir Ansari, chairperson of Muslim OBC organisation, said: “It doesn't matter whether a Muslim heads the department or a non-Muslim. The reason is that the community does not have much hope from the BJP government as it is going to work at the behest of PM Narendra Modi who has done nothing for Muslims till date.” Ansari also claimed that Khadse had given a statement in Pandharpur on Sunday that his government would impose a ban on cow slaughter. “Such statements will not generate any goodwill among Muslims,”said Ansari.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said his party doesn't want to comment on Congress' objections. “We would keep a watch on Khadse's work and oppose him if his action goes wrong.”

While Khadse could not be contacted, BJP leaders rubbished Congress' apprehensions. A senior BJP leader said, “Why a Hindu leader can't work for the Muslim community? Moreover, Khadse ji is a very experienced leader and qualified enough to handle any portfolio.”

BJP spokesperson Shaina NC said it was the CM's prerogative to allocate the ministries to appropriate persons. “We can't chose ministers as per Congress' choice. Besides, BJP does not play appeasement politics,” said Shaina.