Fadnavis may prefer Cabinet expansion soon

Mumbai: After the demise of State agriculture minister Pandurang Phundkar on Thursday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to conduct a Cabinet expansion soon and also reshuffle portfolios. Former revenue minister Eknath Khadse’s chances of re-entering the Cabinet are higher, as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has given him a clean chit. Meanwhile, rural development minister Pankaja Munde may be the contender for the agriculture portfolio, party sources revealed.

Mr Fadnavis has 37 ministers in the Cabinet after the demise of Phundkar. Though gossip about Cabinet expansion is doing rounds since more than a year, however, Mr Fadnavis has avoided it because of various reasons. Initially he contemplated removing the non-performing ministers. But it might have created ruckus in the party. Considering Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are due next year, it is not possible to remove any minister from the party. So senior ministers are of the view that instead of dropping any minister, Mr Fadnavis will fill five vacancies and allot the corporation president posts to the party leaders.

Currently, the model code of conduct is in force because of Legislative Council election. Though expansion is not directly related to it, Mr Fadnavis may do the expansion after it. Meanwhile, monsoon session of the legislature will begin on July 4 at Nagpur. So CM Fadnavis may decide about expansion before it, told party sources.

Mr Phundkar was the senior OBC leader. Ex-minister Eknath Khadse who is waiting to the re-enter the cabinet is also from the OBC community.