Old guard not ready to pave way for young leaders: Sena

Ahead of the Maharashtra Cabinet expansion, the Shiv Sena on Monday (December 16) said old guards are not ready to give up ministerial berths for young leaders and they should come out of the illusion that the state government cannot do without them.

Without naming anyone, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana also underscored the need for coming out of the psyche that one should get only a lucrative portfolio in the government “to serve the state or country” and questioned the intention of such leaders.

It, however, named senior Congress leaders like Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan and NCP’s Ajit Pawar, who are being seen as contenders for Cabinet berths in the second round of expansion.

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The state Cabinet expansion is likely to take place after the state legislature’s winter session, which begins on December 16 and will conclude on December 21 in Nagpur.

The Sena, NCP and Congress formed government in the state by joining hands after the October 21 Assembly polls under the banner of the “Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi.”

The Shiv Sena, which is leading the government, said former state chief ministers Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan are keen on joining Thackeray’s Council of Ministers.

“It will be a trapeze act to incorporate Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan during Cabinet expansion and reallocation of portfolios,” the Marathi daily said.

“The Shiv Sena, too, will have to pick leaders (for ministerial positions) from among its old hands and young turks. It is expected that fresh faces come into Maharashtra’s politics…but the old guards are not ready to let go of chairs for youngsters,” the Thackeray-led party said.

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Government departments like relief, rehabilitation, information technology, skill development, school education and health are also important, but nobody is ready to take charge of them, the Sena alleged, without naming its allies.

As per the portfolio-sharing arrangement decided by the Sena and its allies NCP and Congress, the Thackeray-led party has got home, urban development, forest, environment, agriculture, industries and higher and technical education, and parliamentary affairs departments.

The NCP has been allocated finance and planning, housing, public health, irrigation, rural development and social justice departments. Besides, Congress has been given revenue, energy, PWD, tribal welfare, women and child welfare, textile, relief and rehabilitation.