Even as Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde managed to induct 11 MLAs and former ministers into the state cabinet, Shinde is now facing a challenge of pacifying former ministers and other MLAs who were not inducted into the cabinet and are expressing their displeasure and resentment.
Soon after the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday in Nagpur, several MLAs and former ministers who were not inducted into the cabinet expressed disappointment. Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondekar tendered his resignation from all Sena party posts, while Sena MLA Prakash Surve from Magathane too expressed his displeasure.
Bhondekar, who was aspiring to be in the list of ministers, even went on to hit out at the Mahayuti over the choice of the ministers, saying that “tainted MLAs” were taking oaths.
“Many people who have taken oaths today have not made any contribution to the party. There are many tainted people against whom there are allegations of corruption but those people also got ministerial posts. Our expectations have not been fulfilled and it makes us all sad. The sentiments of the workers have also been hurt. I am the East Vidarbha coordinator and deputy leader of Shiv Sena and if I cannot give justice to the people, then why should I remain in the post, “he said.
Upset for not being inducted into the party, Surve said ,”I would have taken the opportunity very seriously if I had got one but it seems that struggle is in my destiny, but I am not one to give up. I will continue to struggle.”
Several other MLAs hoping for their name to surface in the oath-taking list also seemed disheartened and said, on the condition of anonymity, that they hope that Shinde will give a respectable responsibility to them in the upcoming months.
Deepak Kesarkar, former Sena minister who was dropped, stayed away from the oath-taking ceremony in Nagpur and visited Shirdi to receive blessings from Sai Baba. While speaking to the media, Kesarkar said that he didnt know why his name was dropped despite him doing good work in the past two-and-half years.
“I will have to introspect as to why I didn’t get the ministerial berth. But I didn’t put any pressure on myself to get it. I attempted to meet Shinde ji but could not as he was busy at that time. I had conveyed my message then. But now I will do such work in the upcoming years that I will get a call from Delhi directly,” Kesarkar said.
Shinde will be banking on the 2.5 years rotation policy for cabinet berths to pacify the unhappy MLAs. While speaking at a press conference, Shinde said that, based on the performance, the rotation policy will be implemented.
“Many people are capable of becoming ministers. Some haven’t got (the chance), does not mean they are not capable. But there are some limitations. We as a party have decided to give ministerial posts for two and a half years on a rotation basis, and it will be based on performance. It will be calculated, and the opportunities will be given. Because of this policy, many more will get an opportunity to become ministers and represent their region, district and constituency,” Shinde said.
The newly appointed ministers however did not seem happy with the two and half years of rotation policy with ministers like Uday Samant, Pratap Sarnaik and Sanjay Shirsat skirting questions about it.
“I think there could be some displeasure with the 2.5 years rotation policy. We work as a family in Shiv Sena, so we, the ministers, will try to remove any slight resentment. Also why 2.5 years? If the ministers do not work, then our leaders or Shinde ji can tell us to step down within two months, and we will do that as well,” Samant said. Sarnaik and Shirsat too echoed Samant.
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