Midnight meeting of Maha BJP's core committee called at CM Fadnavis' house

The state government's core committee members leave after the late night meeting at CM Devendra Fadnavis's residence, Varsha bungalow. Pics/ Sayyed Sameer Abedi

An emergency meeting of the state BJP government's core committee members was called at CM Devendra Fadnavis's residence late last night. According to sources, the meeting, which continued till 12.30 am, was held to discuss cabinet expansion.

Around 11 pm yesterday, state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve reached Varsha bungalow, the CM's residence. Senior minister Chandrakant Patil, MLAs Ashish Shelar, Atul Bhatkhalkar and other members of the BJP core committee arrived for the meeting, soon after. According to sources, the members discussed various issues pertaining to the agriculture sector and farmers in the state, in the backdrop of 84-year-old Dhule farmer Dharma Patil's suicide on January 22.

A source said that the inclusion of senior leaders Eknath Khadse and Narayan Rane in the cabinet was also discussed at the meeting.

Addressing the media, Danve said, "Meetings among core committee members are a regular exercise. Every month we meet to discuss various issues pertaining to the state and the party." Danve, however, refused to comment when asked if the inclusion Rane and Khadse had been discussed in the meeting.

With barely 20 months of the government's tenure left, sources said the party is planning to expand its cabinet. at the earliest.

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