Cabinet reshuffle after October 5 MAJOR UPHEAVAL

Narayan Rane to join BJP any time now; Sena mulls taking away Eknath Shinde’s portfolio

Confirming that former Chief Minister Narayan Rane would join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at any time, a senior minister disclosed that the reshuffle of state cabinet will be in second week of October at any time after October 5. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena too may replace some of its Cabinet ministers with a new one and may change portfolios of few ministers including Eknath Shinde, minister for Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.

Rane, till this moment, leader of Congress, during an interview with regional news channel revealed that he has an offer from the Shiv Sena to join. However, he has no plan to join them. “I have decided a long ago that I shall not join the Shiv Sena ever again,” said Rane.

“Shiv Sena knows it well that if I join the BJP, then it would be very difficult for them to handle the political situation and that is the reason why they are trying create hurdles. With me, the BJP would be very assured of their goal of winning the 2019 assembly polls on their own and that is the reason why the offer has come to me from the Shiv Sena,” Rane said.

However, he declined to give details regarding the offer. Rane reiterated that he would reveal his next step on Thursday. Meanwhile, a BJP minister confirmed that Rane’s joining BJP has been decided by party leadership.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will on tour to South Korea between midnight of September 25 to September 29.

“Once, CM returns from his tour abroad, the names will be finalised and the cabinet will be reshuffled after October 5,” said the minister. Meanwhile, after clashes between the Shiv Sena minister and legislators, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has decided to replace a few ministers with new ones. Diwakar Raote, minister for transport, Ramdas Kadam, minister for Environment, Dr Deepak Sawant, minister for public health and Subhash Desai, minister for industries are the probable ministers who may replace,” claimed a Shiv Sena insider.

Two term legislator Bharat Gogawale from Mahad was a strong aspirant for induction into state cabinet. However, his allegation against Kadam will be obstacle for his opportunity,” claimed the leader. “Instead, either Sadanand Chavan, legislator from Chiplun and former government official from water resources department or Rajan Salvi, legislator from Rajapur will be inducted from Konkan region. Pratap Chikhalikar, legislator from Nanded who openly appealed voters to vote for BJP in Nanded Municipal Corporation would be inducted into cabinet to pacify his disappointment with the party.

From Western Maharashtra region, Dr Sujit Minchekar (Hatkanangale, Kolhapur) or Shambhuraje Desai (Patan, Satara) would be inducted. The Sena leader claimed that Raote's transport portfolio may be given to Shinde. Vijay Shivtare, MoS would be elevated to cabinet and would be given charge of MSRDC.

Rane reiterated that he would reveal his next step on Thursday