Nagpur, July 26 (PTI) Speculation over a possible cabinet reshuffle in Maharashtra gained traction on Saturday, with senior BJP leader and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule emphasizing that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis holds the final authority in the matter.
Amid growing rumors about potential portfolio swaps or the removal of controversial ministers following Fadnavis’ meeting with Union ministers in Delhi, Bawankule clarified, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP (SP) chief Ajit Pawar, and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde can decide for their parties, which is their right. However, the final decision rests with Fadnavis as he is the chief minister of the state.”
Bawankule also took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, demanding an apology over Gandhi’s recent admission that he failed to adequately safeguard the interests of the OBC community in the past. “Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation and the OBC community, as it is clear that the Congress used OBCs merely as a vote bank,” he said.
Commenting on the reports suggesting Sudhir Mungantiwar could replace Rahul Narwekar as the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, Bawankule dismissed the claims, accusing Shiv Sena-UBT mouthpiece Saamana of spreading “misleading news” to garner attention.
On the issue of financial irregularities in the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Bawankule asserted that men who fraudulently availed of the scheme must return the funds, adding that cases should be filed against them.
The buzz surrounding the future of certain ministers—particularly those from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena—continues, with state agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate facing criticism after videos allegedly showing him playing a card game during assembly sessions went viral. While Kokate has denied the allegations and threatened legal action, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has assured a thorough review of the matter.