Ahead of the State Cabinet expansion that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis likely to undertake before the start of the winter session of the State legislature in Nagpur on December 7, Maharashtra BJP on Monday held consultations with its smaller allies in its effort to accommodate them in the impending ministry expansion.
As part of the consultation process, Maharashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve met Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athavale, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha chief Mahadev Jankar, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana leader Raju Shetti at the official residence of PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil.
Also present at the meeting were Sadabhau Khot of Swabimani Shetkari Sangthana and Vinayak Mete of Shiv Sangram party. Mete and Jankar are members of the Maharashtra legislative Council.
Talking to media persons, Danve-Patil said that he had initiated the process of consultation with his party’s smaller allies ahead of the meeting of the BJP core committee headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis which would take place on Monday night.
Danve-Patil said that the smaller allies had put forth any pre-conditions.
The State Cabinet has in all 12 vacancies. In the impending expansion, the ruling BJP is expected to keep six ministries with it, while it would accommodate two Sena ministers. “The BJP may give the remaining four berths – mostly ministers of state – to its smaller allies,” a senior BJP leader said.