Slim state ministry likely; swearing in of CM not before October 28

NAGPUR: There is a possibility that swearing-in ceremony of the new Maharashtra government may take place only on Tuesday or perhaps even later. While there are lots of ifs and buts, and also the nitty-gritty of partnership with Shiv Sena to be worked out, TOI has reliably learnt from top party sources that the first-ever BJP chief minister of the state will head a sleek and slim team of ministers.
In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ and also a mirror reflection of what has happened in Delhi, the state ministry may comprise between 25 to 30 ministers.
Earlier, there were indications that city MLA and state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis would be sworn-in on Monday (Oct 27) as chief minister. But the tight line-up of events and delay in opening formal talks with the Sena – the imminent post-poll partner of the BJP – may push back the function, the sources said on Wednesday.
Fadnavis, the favourite of the party bosses to become CM, landed in Nagpur from Mumbai on Tuesday night, soon after a group of Vidarbha MLAs had called upon Union minister Nitin Gadkari at his residence and openly expressed their view that he (Gadkari), “being experienced and senior”, should be the choice as CM. Fadnavis refused to speak on this issue on Wednesday asking, “What is wrong on the part of newly elected MLAs, many of them first timers, calling on a senior leader.”
The Nagpur South-West MLA, who won an election for a fourth time, spent the day meeting people at his bungalow on Plot No. 276. He is expected to stay put in the city for the next couple of days and celebrate Diwali with family. Looking his usual cool self, Fadnavis seemed to exude confidence that there would be no hurdles in his becoming the CM.
Sources close to him said the swearing-in may happen most probably on October 28. This is because of the commitments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is certain to attend the swearing-in ceremony. He is scheduled to visit Mumbai on Saturday for the inauguration of a hospital and hence no party meeting with observers can take place that day.
On Sunday, party leaders including MPs of the BJP and Sena are expected to be in New Delhi for the ‘chai pe charcha’ being hosted by Modi for NDA constituents. So the meeting of the new Maharashtra MLAs of the BJP with central observer Rajnath Singh may happen only on October 27. Presuming that the state legislative party would come to a consensus on their leader, the earliest the swearing-in of the chief minister can take place is October 28.
With Vidarbha electing the largest block of 44 MLAs out of the 122 elected, there is a chance that 5 of them would be getting ministry berths. This is apart from Fadnavis who is set to become the fourth chief minister of Maharashtra from Vidarbha.
As per norms of regional representation, the region should accommodate 15% of the 62 seats – 9. But that is when the ministry is of the allowed strength of 43. With chances of a slimmer ministry and the emphasis being on able and experienced ministers getting multiple portfolios, only five to six from the region may get look-in.