Mumbai | Jagran News Desk: Days before the cabinet expansion in Maharashtra, state Congress chief and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that he is ‘disappointed’ with the portfolios in the three-party government and would request Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to reconsider the decision.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Thorat said that his party is unhappy with the portfolio allotments and the party has a desire of getting two to three important departments for its ministers.
“Congress would be happy if we get extra portfolios in the cabinet expansion scheduled to be held on December 30. As we have to accommodate many of our leaders, we need more portfolios. But that is totally dependent on the chief minister who is the leader of our alliance,” he said while adding that the state unit leaders have conveyed their resentment to the Congress high command.
The remarks from Thorat comes days before the cabinet expansion in Maharashtra which will take place on December 30.
Currently the portfolios have been distributed among six ministers who make up the cabinet -- two each from the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. The Congress has been given revenue and PWD, among other portfolios.
A senior Congress leader, quoted by news agency PTI, has said that most of the ministries allocated to the party do not have ‘direct connection’ with people.
“Ministries such as animal husbandry and textiles which we have got should be merged with agriculture and industries,” PTI quoted the leader as saying.
The leader further said that the Congress is eyeing agriculture, co-operation, industries, housing and rural development ministries, and is keen that it get at least two of these.
“We will also have to be firm on getting posts of Minister of State for home, finance, urban development. It is only then that the balance of power (among three parties) will be achieved,” he said.
The Congress is a part of the ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ government (alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP). The three parties formed government in the state after the Shiv Sena parted it ways with the BJP over a disagreement on the Chief Minister’s post and other cabinet berths.
Posted By: Aalok Sensharma