State Cabinet expansion likely in February 2018

Mumbai: With the winter session of the state legislature slated to begin on December 11, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis faces the uphill task of removing non-performing ministers from the state Cabinet as well as the induction of Narayan Rane into it.   

The CM had set several deadlines for expansion of the state Cabinet however it did not happen due to many reasons. There are 38 ministers in the state Cabinet and four vacancies. Two seats will always be kept vacant so that only two leaders can be accommodated. The CM planned to drop five ministers for non-performance but there are many difficulties, sources said.

Housing minister Prakash Mehta is facing a Lokayukta enquiry but BJP president Amit Shah has given him the responsibility of 13 constituencies in the Gujarat elections, making it impossible to take any action against him before the Lokayukta enquiry report.

A public interest litigation (PIL) is pending in the high court against senior leader Narayan Rane over his properties and disproportionate assets. An enforcement directorate (ED) enquiry is possible if the high court so directs. Hence, it would be wrong to induct him into the cabinet immediately.

Report of Rtd. justice Zoting’s enquiry into former senior minister Eknath Khadse has not yet been tabled before the legislature. For all these reasons, it will be difficult for the CM to take immediate action against non-performers and induct five or six new ministers into the state Cabinet. A senior BJP leader revealed that if Mr Rane is going to contest the Council elections in 2018, expansion of the Cabinet could happen in February.