NCP reshuffle on the cards after civic election let-down

Still smarting from its lukewarm performance in the recent civic polls and with an eye on the 2014 Assembly polls, the NCP is looking at a reshuffle in its cabinet and party organisation.

Still smarting from its lukewarm performance in the recent civic polls and with an eye on the 2014 Assembly polls, the NCP is looking at a reshuffle in its cabinet and party organisation. Party sources said that a change in the cabinet was on the cards, but unlikely before the upcoming budget session of the state legislature, starting March 15.

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"Some kind of a rejig is expected as part of the overall strategy for the 2014 polls. Some leaders may have to be included in the cabinet as they have been promised ministerial berths, others may have to go because of poor performance,'' said a senior party functionary.

The party expected better results in the civic and zilla parishad polls. The NCP failed to register a decisive win in Pune and Nashik, and did not make inroads in Mumbai. The poor performance has jinxed its plans to go solo in the 2014 polls, and party chief Sharad Pawar is reportedly keen to weed out the weak and make room for new faces.

Among those who may get the boot, sources said, are tribal development minister Babanrao Pachpute and food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh. The party top brass is reportedly unhappy with their performance.

However, it remains unclear if there will be any change in the four major ministries held by the party - home, which is with RR Patil, finance and energy, with Ajit Pawar and water resources, held by Sunil Tatkare.