Maharashtra was completely ignored in the Union Cabinet reshuffle exercise of the UPA II ministry on Sunday. The only person from the state to get a chance in the ministry was alliance leader Tariq Anwar, NCP MP from the Rajya Sabha. Mr Anwar, was sworn in as minister of state for agriculture.
Currently, the Congress has three ministers from the state — home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and state ministers Milind Deora and Pratik Patil.
When contacted, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre said that the party would abide by the decision of the high command. “It is about giving representation to all the states. As of now, there are four ministers from the state…so it cannot be said that the AICC is not pay attention to state,” he said.
Congress leader Patil Khatgaonkar said, “The high command must have taken the decision for the benefit of the party.”
The Congress MPs from the state were expected to get at least one post in the Cabinet expansion. The possibilities were higher, especially after the demise of Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh last month. Also, some other Congress leaders from the state had been lobbying for a berth at the Centre. However, despite the fact that there were three vacancies created — one due to death of Deshmukh, and the other two due to the resignation of Gurudas Kamat and Mukul Wasnik — the state Congress did not get any representation.
Party sources said that after Deshmukh’s death, the state leadership was not strong enough to push its case with the Centre.
According to cabinet sources, “This could be a part of the grand design of those who have moved closer to the high command, Inclusion of new faces from the state could have posed a threat to those who are projecting themselves as leaders of the state.”