Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (File Photo)
Highlights
- Maharashtra CM adds 11 ministers to cabinet, Sena gets 2 junior posts
- Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray skipped the oath ceremony
- Sena didn't get an extra ministry in PM's cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added 11 more ministers to his government on Friday morning, allotting partner Shiv Sena only two junior posts, in yet another message from the BJP on who is boss.
The Shiv Sena's protracted sulk is likely to deepen; party chief Uddhav Thackeray skipped the oath ceremony, though Arjun Khotkar and Gulabrao Patil of the Shiv Sena were there top take oath as ministers of state.
Included today as Cabinet ministers in the Devendra Fadnavis government were five BJP leaders and one from ally Rashtriya Samaj Paksh, its founder and chief Mahadev Jankar, who came for the oath ceremony with his mother and swore full allegiance to the BJP.
The Shiv Sena had expected to be compensated in Mumbai today for getting no additional ministry in the mega Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week at the Centre. The Sena wanted one of its existing Ministers of State (MoS) to be promoted to Cabinet rank, a demand turned down by the Chief Minister.
Several rounds of meetings at 'Matoshree' and 'Varsha', the residences of Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai had preceded the cabinet expansion, which helps fill up the vacancies made by the resignation of Maharashtra's most senior minister Eknath Khadse of the BJP over corruption charges last month.
Mr Khadse handled 10 portfolios, which were taken over temporarily by Mr Fadnavis.
The Shiv Sena has one minister at the Centre, Anant Geete, the union cabinet minister for heavy industries. It's absence on a list of new ministers this week that had two leaders from Maharashtra, including another ally Ramdas Athawle, was seen to strike a blow at the already fragile relationship between the longstanding allies.
The Sena had said it was "hurt" at the treatment meted out to it and asked if PM Modi had not found "any talented person in the Sena."
The Shiv Sena has lost no opportunity in attacking its ally ever since the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2014, that reversed their roles in the alliance with the BJP winning more seats. It makes jibes and frequently criticises the Modi government publicly.