Mumbai: Former Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who recently joined the BJP, has been given the charge of the high profile Ministry of Housing. Jaydutt Kshir-sagar, who left the Nationalist Congress Party to join the Shiv Sena, has been given Employment Guarantee and Horticulture; and Ashish Shelar has got School Education, Sports & Youth Welfare.
Shelar has got the key portfolios which were earlier handled by Vinod Tawde. Tawde will now handle Parliamentary Affairs and Higher Education department. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allocated these portfolios to his Ministers late in the night.
BJP legislator from Amravati, Anil Bonde, has got the key department of Agriculture which was earlier handled by Eknath Khadse and Pandurang Phundkar.
Sanjay Kute has got Labour and OBC Welfare department. Labour was earlier with Sambhaji Nilangekar and OBC Welfare was with Ram Shinde. Nilangekar has now got Food and Civil Supply and Ram Shinde, who lost Water Conservation, has got Marketing and Textiles.
The Food and Drugs Administration department has gone to Jaykumar Raval who already has Tourism. As expected, Suresh Khade got Social Justice and Ashok Uike got Tribal Development.
The BJP has given one more portfolio -- Water Conservation -- to the Shiv Sena to accommodate Tanaji Sawant in the Cabinet.
MOS portfolios
Yogesh Sagar, the BJP legislator from Mumbai, has got Urban Development, which is considered a lucrative department. Parinay Fuke got Public Works, Tribal and Forests.
Sanjay Bhegde is now MOS for Labour, Relief and Rehabilitation. Atul Save is Minister of State for Industries, mining and minorities. Avinash Mahatekar has got Social Justice Department.