Mon Dec 16 19:57:57 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Cabinet Shuffle Sparks Outrage, Protests Erupt

**Mumbai, India** – The recent expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has triggered widespread discontent, with eleven key ministers from the ruling Mahayuti alliance dropped from the new government. Supporters of several ousted ministers, particularly those of Chhagan Bhujbal, have staged protests in various parts of the state.

The biggest blow was dealt to Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), losing five key leaders including Bhujbal. The BJP and Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena each saw three ministers excluded. Notable omissions include BJP leaders Ravindra Chavan, Sudhir Mungantiwar, and Vijaykumar Gavit, and Shiv Sena leaders Tanaji Sawant, Abdul Sattar, and Deepak Kesarkar.

Bhujbal, reportedly offered a Rajya Sabha seat, rejected the offer, stating it would be unfair to his Yeola constituents. He has also announced his resignation from the assembly. Mungantiwar publicly contradicted Chief Minister Fadnavis’s claim that his omission followed extensive discussions.

Other sidelined leaders, including several MLAs, voiced their displeasure. Vijay Shivtare criticized the handling of the cabinet reshuffle and expressed his refusal to accept a ministerial post in the future. Prakash Surve, who was among the first to join Shinde’s faction, lamented the preferential treatment seemingly given to other, more politically connected individuals.

Despite claims by state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule that there were no disputes over portfolio allocations, the controversy highlights growing internal tensions within the ruling coalition. The new cabinet, comprising 25 new faces, has promised an audit of its ministers, with Fadnavis attributing the exclusions to performance-based decisions. The inclusion of four women legislators, including Pankaja Munde, is a notable aspect of the reshuffle. However, the fallout from the exclusions continues to unfold, raising questions about the stability of the ruling alliance.

Read More