Events & Issues

New Delhi, 3 November 2014

Maharashtra BJP Govt

IN THE SADDLE, BUT SHAKY

By Nikhil Gajendragadkar

At last, the BJP has succeeded in clinching power in Maharashtra. It has its government in place, even though a minority one. The party needs support from some others to be comfortably ensconced. In less than two weeks, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will have to prove majority in the House. Till now, the position of the Shiv Sena, its one time ally is ambiguous. That is one reason that the size of the Government is very small. It also reveals that though the BJP is in the saddle its position is very shaky.

The new Government so far has only 10 ministers including the CM. With allocation of portfolios, the second phase of Government formation is complete. However, it took over two weeks post election results to declare the list of ministers.

The ministerial portfolios too had many surprises. While Fadnavis will hold Home, Urban Development and all unallocated departments, political quarters were abuzz with speculation that a party veteran Vinod Tawde will be the next Home Minister. He did indicate so before the elections as well. He was also in the race for the Chief Minister’s post. Perhaps that was his undoing. He, however, has been given School Education, Technical and Higher Education, Sports portfolios among other few, raising many an eyebrow. With this allocation of portfolios, has the BJP honoured him or demoted him?

Another veteran Eknath Khadse was tipped to be the Finance Minister, but he has been given charge of the Revenue and Agriculture Ministries with some more other portfolios. It is noteworthy that Khadse too was one of the aspirants for the top post of the State, and did not hide his resentment for being denied it. Finance has gone to Sudhir Mungantiwar, former chief of the party’s State unit. He will also look after Planning and Forests. There is thus ample signal that these two leaders have been given preference over Tawde.

The BJP has at the same time ensured that Pankaja Munde, who has entered the lower house of the State just for the second time, holds a Cabinet berth. Being the daughter of late Gopinath Munde is her basic and important qualification but she too took pains to create support for the party in her Wanzari  (or  Wanjara- a nomadic community in Maharashtra) and some backward  communities in the Marathwada region. Apparently, she too had expressed her desire to be the Chief Minister, though she denied such news reports. As expected she is entrusted with Women and Child Welfare along with Rural Development and Water Conservation.

The tribal face of the BJP Vishnu Savara is of course Tribal Development and Social Justice Minister. Prakash Mehta is the representative of Gujarati’s in Mumbai and has been entrusted with an important portfolio of Industries.  

In Maharashtra, the Co-operative department is considered very important. This sector is in a way a political base for aspiring and established politicians. Maximum numbers of sugar factories in the State are co-operatives and further this sector generates money for a Party. Thus, the BJP has ensured that the coveted post goes to a staunch Sangh loyalist --Chandrakant Patil.  He got elected to Legislative Council from Pune and though he hails from Kolhapur -- a prominent district in the Sugar belt of the State-- does not own any sugar factory. Importantly, the new minister was in the RSS and ABVP and has worked closely with Amit Shah in Gujarat.

The new Government has only two Ministers of State. Vidya Thakur from Mumbai got the berth because she defeated Subhash Desai, a Shiv Sena stalwart and so is considered as a giant killer. She will be assisting Pankaja. The other one is experienced MLA Dilip Kamble from Pune’s Cantonment constituency. He belongs to Dalit class and will work with Savara.

Every member of Fadnavis Government is burdened with many portfolios. PM Narendra Modi advocates a lean Government but this is far too small a ministry. At least 14-15 members were expected in the Ministry, which can be expanded after the trial of strength in the House. Is this an indication of cautious approach or lack of confidence? Perhaps, the BJP has run out of suitable candidates or rather has preferred to keep the doors open for the Shiv Sena to eventually be part of the Government.   

As was expected, Fadnavis and his colleagues took oath of office and secrecy in a grand ceremony held at Wankhede stadium, which could be compared with an inauguration of a World Cup event. However, it wasn’t devoid of political drama. The BJP's 25-year-old partner Shiv Sena did not figure in the first list, which was shorter than expected. Obviously, it led to heartburn, with the Shiv Sena even announcing its decision to boycott the ceremony, for the ‘insult’. But, after a phone call from Amit Shah, Sena Chief Uddhav relented and attended the ceremony.

As is well-known, the SS-BJP alliance was called off just after the Assembly elections were declared. In the run-up to the event both parties blamed each other for the break-up. During campaigning Uddhav criticised all leaders of the BJP, including Modi, but the latter strategically refrained from attacking the SS.

However, the Shiv Sena miscalculated its popularity. It was hoping to gain power but fell short miserably with only 63 seats, whereas estranged partner BJP emerged as the single largest party though short of forming the Government on its own. Not very surprisingly they started to sing a different tune. While the BJP realised that Shiv Sena is its natural partner, the latter too hinted of offering support. The general feeling was that both will reconcile and clinch matters. If and when, is the big question.

In all this confusion, the Nationalist Congress Party has chipped in too. Party spokesman and former Union Aviation Minister Praful Patel has declared the NCP’s support to the BJP even though the latter had not asked for it. This was perhaps to keep the Shiv Sena and BJP away from coming together. Indeed, the SS has been on the edge, with the State leadership saying it was open to all options. Uddhav climbed down and said his party would support any CM.

While chances of reconciliation emerged, it was clear that Shiv Sena will demand a price for its help. As per reports it asked for Deputy CM’s post and some plum portfolios such as Finance, Home, Revenue etc. Uddhav did meet Modi and Shah but talks so far have not yielded much. His party has half the number of MLAs compared to BJP so the saffron leadership is in no mood of giving in easily. Apparently, BJP leaders in the State are not up to playing second fiddle to self-proclaimed big brother Shiv Sena.

Both sides remain adamant and yet Fadnavis is saying that talks are positive. Perhaps they are waiting for the first test of the Government. BJP Government will have to prove its majority on the 13th. The NCP will boycott the proceedings and may make it easy for the Government. What course the Shiv Sena will take is still uncertain. Till the day of the trial, this ‘half government’ will stutter through. Unless there is a remarriage before the big day! ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)