Eight hopefuls from western Maharashtra eye cabinet berth prize in next government

Leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress held meeting on Wednesday at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Bhavan to discuss the names for the cabinet berths and portfolios.

With the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena finalising their alliance and projecting Uddhav Thackeray as the next chief minister of Maharashtra, many from the three parties from western Maharashtra are hopeful of getting cabinet berths in the next state government.

Ajit Pawar leaves his resident at Churchgate in Mumbai.(Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

The new government is set to be sworn in on Thursday and names of those getting the cabinet berths haven’t been released by the parties, though names of hopefuls are doing rounds in the political circles. Leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress held meeting on Wednesday at Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Bhavan to discuss the names for the cabinet berths and portfolios.

While the Sena does not have any presence in Pune district, the party may go for a member of legislative council member and choose Neelam Gorhe for one of the portfolios. Gorhe, an MLA, is prominent party face representing its side in the media.

Of the 70 seats from western Maharashtra, Sena has bagged only five seats while the NCP won 21 seats and this poses a challenge for the party as it has to ensure that its political equations are not disturbed while selecting leaders for the cabinet berth.

From NCP’s side, Dilip Walse Patil, Jayant Patil along with Ajit Pawar are in the race for important portfolios. However, there is uncertainity over Ajit Pawar’s berth in cabinet given his recent revolt against the party.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Ajit Pawar said, “Uddhav Thackeray will decide on my cabinet berth. As far as my political future is concerned, the party will decide it.”

In the race

Shiv Sena

Neelam Gorhe. (Hindustan Times)

1) Neelam Gorhe:

Shiv Sena spokeperson

Member of Legislative Council

Face of the Shiv Sena on television in the region

Hails from Pune

Congress

Balasaheb Thorat. (HT PHOTO)

1) Balasaheb Thorat

Senior Congress member from Ahmednagar

MLA from Sangamner and state Congress chief

Likely to be get an important portfolio

Privthviraj Chavan. (HT PHOTO)

2) Prithviraj Chavan

Former chief minister

MLA from Karad in Satara

May be appointed as speaker of the House

Vishwajeet Kadam. (HT PHOTO)

3) Vishwajeet Kadam

Second time Congress MLA from Palus Kadegaon

Son of late Congress veteran Patangrao Kadam

Won by huge margin

Sangram Anantrao Thopte. (HT PHOTO)

4) Sangram Thopte

Third time Congress MLA from Bhor in Pune district

Shares a good relationship with the Pawars

NCP

Jayant Patil. (HT Photo)

1) Jayant Patil

State chief of NCP

MLA from Sangli district

May become deputy chief minister

Dilip Walse Patil. (HT Photo)

2) Dilip Walse Patil

MLA from Ambegaon in Pune district

Former assembly speaker

Soft spoken and Sharad Pawar’s close aide

3) Ajit Pawar

Seven-time MLA from Baramati

Former deputy chief minister

Rebelled against the party and joined hands with Devendra Fadnavis

Party will take call on his berth