Mumbai: The process of cabinet expansion gained momentum as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis drove to Matoshree to meet Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Friday night. Fadnavis himself gave this information in Marathi on his personal twitter handle. It is believed that both discussed the proposal of Deputy Chief Minister’s post and probable names for cabinet from the Shiv Sena. Fadanvis was at Matoshree for around one hour. The CM is likely to expand his cabinet on Sunday, a day before the start of the last session of the legislative assembly.
The BJP, it is understood, is having trouble finalising the names of the leaders it wants to accommodate in the revamped cabinet. A few ministers are likely to be dropped in the reshuffle. Praveen Pote, member of the legislative council and the minister of state (MoS) for industries and mining, is likely to make his exit; he is likely to be replaced by MLA Anil Bonde. Both Pote and Bonde belong to Amravati district and are from the OBC category. The other ministers likely to be replaced are Ambareesh Raje Atram, MoS for tribal development and forests, Vidya Thakur, MoS for women and child development, and Ranjeet Patil, MoS for urban development.
Dr Sanjay Kute, a senior MLA from Buldhana, is likely to be made a cabinet minister. He is close to Fadnavis and is likely to fill the vacancy caused by the demise of Pandurang Fundkar, a senior leader also from Buldhana. Fadnavis is expected to visit New Delhi on Saturday, to discuss his cabinet expansion plans with the national party president Amit Shah. According to sources, the cabinet is scheduled to be expanded on Sunday morning. After this, the newly expanded cabinet will have a meeting and then hold a tea-party for the opposition.
