Since the news of Maharashtra assembly cabinet expansion has been doing rounds, Shiv Sena's elected member have some hopes of getting inducted in the state cabinet. But now reports have surfaced saying that Shiv Sena loyalists are likely to miss ministerial berth.
According to Mid-Day, the Shiv Sena leadership plans to induct former NCP leader Jaidutt Kshirsagar. Meanwhile, the cold war between Shiv Sena and BJP continues. When Sena joined the BJP government in 2014, it gave four senior leaders from the Upper house priority. They made an exception for Eknath Shinde by giving him one of the five Cabinet slots. Cabinet minister Deepak Sawant quit because he was denied another term in the Upper house. Sources told the leading daily, that the vacancy would be filled when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expands his Cabinet, which is likely to happen on June 14.
In the meanwhile, a top Sena leader told Mid-Day that in case of a Cabinet expansion they would go for Kshirsagar, who quit as NCP legislator from Beed. If sworn in, Kshirsagar should get one of the additional departments that Shinde has been in-charge of since Sawant's resignation.
Earlier, reports surfaced saying that Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, who is likely to join BJP, will be a part of the cabinet. Former NCP minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar, who joined Shiv Sena, is likely to be part of the cabinet expansion as well.
On Tuesday, Minister for Finance and Planning in the Maharashtra government Sudhir Mungantiwar said that cabinet expansion will be done by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before the assembly session. "Devendra Fadnavis has decided that Maharashtra Cabinet expansion will be done before the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Session, soon all will hear the good news. The expectations of Shiv Sena and other allies will be met," Sudhir Mungantiwar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
