Mumbai : Maharashtra’s Legislative Committee divisions were announced on Tuesday, with 11 BJP MLAs appointed to various committees. However, the division of committees for Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party quota is still pending.
MLAs have been appointed to these committees under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Cabinet Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP state working president Ravindra Chavan, and MLA Randhir Savarkar.
The 11 BJP MLAs appointed to committees include:
Public Enterprises Committee: Rahul Kul
Panchayati Raj Committee: Santosh Danve-Patil
Assurance Committee: Ravi Rana
Scheduled Caste Welfare Committee: Narayan Kuche
Scheduled Tribe Welfare Committee: Rajesh Padvi
Women’s Rights and Welfare Committee: Monica Rajale
Other Backward Classes Welfare Committee: Kisan Kathore
Marathi Language Committee: Atul Bhatkhalkar
Special Rights Committee: Ram Kadam
Dharmaday Private Hospital Investigation Committee: Namita Mundada
MLA Residence Arrangements Committee: Sachin Kalyanshetti
This move is seen as an opportunity for BJP MLAs to rehabilitate politically after being deprived of ministerial posts. However, other Mahayuti allies, including Shiv Sena and NCP, are still waiting for their turn.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, cabinet minister and BJP state president, claimed that every Mahayuti ally would get representation in the legislative committees. “There will be a fair distribution of power among us, and no tug-of-war exists between us,” Bawankule clarified.
Out of the total 29 legislative committees, BJP has already claimed 11 crucial committees, leaving Shiv Sena and NCP with nine committees each.
The Speaker has asked both Shiv Sena and NCP to submit their nominations for the committees, but they have not yet done so and were seemingly unaware of BJP’s announcement.
The move comes even as speculation continues over a rift in the Mahayuti alliancecomprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. There has been speculation of a widening chasm between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, who has been skipping meetings called by Fadnavis.
The two have also set up parallel medical assistance desks in the state secretariat, intensifying the power tussle. The rift deepened over a tussle for guardian minister posts for Raigad and Nashik — an issue still unresolved.
