NCP bags plum portfolios in Maharashtra govt
iv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 5
Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has emerged as the biggest gainer in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra with its ministers bagging plum portfolios like home, finance, health and the co-operative sector.
Contrary to expectations, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was not given the home portfolio, which has been given to his uncle Sharad Pawar’s close aide Anil Deshmukh.
The younger Pawar will, however, be Maharashtra’s Finance Minister. Among other things, he will be responsible for overseeing another round of loan waivers for farmers and completion of major infrastructure projects in the state which has a debt of more than Rs 5 lakh crore.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is facing corruption charges during his tenure as minister for public works, has been allotted the relatively light-weight food and civil supplies ministry. His party colleague Dhananjay Munde is the minister for social justice, a portfolio held by Munde’s cousin Pankaja who he defeated in the Assembly elections.
Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde, a close associate of Thackeray, will handle the urban development portfolio. Thackeray’s son Aaditya has been allotted the environment, sports and tourism portfolios.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress has been allotted the Public Works Department, while state party chief Balasaheb Thorat has been made Revenue Minister.
