The principle that guided Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ahead of the state Cabinet revamp earlier this month seems to have been "perform or perish". He was ruthless in clipping the wings of his Cabinet colleagues and aspirants to the CM's post, Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawde, by divesting them of key portfolios. He also sent the message that nobody was indispensable. Already, he has shown the door to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Eknath Khadse for his alleged involvement in scams.
Fadnavis rewarded allies such as the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), which remained loyal to the BJP and followed the alliance dharma. By inducting RSP founder Mahadev Jankar - who hails from the politically crucial Dhangar community -as a minister, Fadnavis tried to pacify him and his followers, who were demanding reservation. The chief minister finally elevated Ram Shinde, minister of state for home (rural), who also belongs to the Dhangar community, to the state Cabinet rank.
Besides, by making SSS leader Sadabhau Khot a minister of state, Fadnavis hinted that his government would give farmers justice.
He also gave due recognition to party loyalists, including former leader of Opposition Pandu-rang Phundkar, as well as representation to young leaders and performers, among them Jaykumar Rawal, Sambhaji Nilangekar and Subhash Deshmukh.
Two Shiv Sena legislators were accommodated as ministers of state; the party also got two additional portfolios from the BJP kitty. Fadnavis allocated the crucial home department to the Shiv Sena by appointing a minister of state. This, despite the Shiv Sena's repeated attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and in general, the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.
The Shiv Sena was completely sidelined during the Union Cabinet expansion. It was Fadnavis who convinced the party high command to reach out to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. However, he rejected the Shiv Sena's demand for additional Cabinet rank.
Contrary to expectations, Fadnavis did not induct a new face from Mumbai where election to the Shiv Sena-BJP-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is slated for 2017.
In a bid to take on the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, he increased representation to the all-powerful Maratha community and also to the Other Backward Classes.
The Opposition has accused Fadnavis of inducting "tainted" legislators in his Cabinet. Phundkar, Rawal, Nilangekar and Gulabrao Patil face inquiries for their alleged involvement in various scams. The Opposition has also targeted Munde, Tawde, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Girish Mahajan and Ravindra Waikar in connection with scams.
The way forward
Fadnavis and his new team face multiple challenges both in and outside the state legislature, which assembles on July 18 for a three-week monsoon session. Although Maharashtra continues to be a leading investment destination, the public debt of the state is rising - it is currently over Rs 3.33 lakh crore. Of course, this figure is well within the gross state domestic product, according to the 14th Finance Commission. The state faces constraints in increase of tax mobilisation. The additional burden of Rs 21,000 crore due to the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission directives for the 1.9 million employees and 650,000 pensioners in the state also has to be factored in.
Battle for Mumbai
Even though the Shiv Sena has been given representation by the BJP in the state Cabinet, the two parties have indicated they might go solo in the BMC poll. Pressure is increasing from the cadres of both the parties to fight independently and come together later, if required. The Shiv Sena is desperate to retain its supremacy in the BMC, its lifeline. The BJP has set a target of winning 114 of the total 227 seats in Greater Mumbai and thereafter, compel the Shiv Sena to play second fiddle.
Both the parties are competing to take credit for a slew of Mumbai development projects and are determined to make development a major election plank. A week ago, the BJP launched its BMC poll campaign by releasing a roster of the time-bound completion of infrastructure projects in the city worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. Fadnavis will be the lead campaigner. The party reminded the Shiv Sena that it was due to BJP ministers in the previous regimes of the saffron party in 1995 and 1999 that the construction of 55 flyovers, development of the Mumbai-Pune expressway and a number of infrastructure upgrade projects had taken place.
The Shiv Sena will project itself as the party genuinely committed to protecting the interests of the Marathi manoos, while ramping up the city's development. Uddhav Thackeray will also remind the electorate of the party's contribution in protecting the Hindu community during two bouts of communal riots.
The next few months are set to lend a new edge to politics in the state.
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