Sanjay Raut stated that limited roles granted to Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar's parties demonstrated that the BJP had reduced them to secondary posts.
Sanjay Raut/ ANI screengrab
On Monday, leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) opposition alliance chastised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for their roles in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new Union administration. During Sunday's swearing-in ceremony, Prataprao Jadhav of Shinde's Shiv Sena party was appointed Minister of State with independent charge. However, Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) declined a Minister of State role, preferring a cabinet position, reported PTI.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated that the limited roles granted to Shinde and Pawar's parties demonstrated that the BJP had reduced them to secondary posts. "This is what you get when you decide to be someone's slave," Raut told the news agency.
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Per the report, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar suggested that if Pawar's NCP does not accept the Minister of State post, they should not expect a cabinet position in the future. "Ajit Pawar must have realised albeit late that the BJP has a use and throw policy for its allies," said Wadettiwar, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said she was not surprised that Ajit Pawar's NCP did not receive a cabinet berth in the Modi cabinet.
In response, Sanjay Shirsat, spokesperson for the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, downplayed the opposition's criticism, suggesting there may be reasons behind his party not receiving a cabinet position.
"Why should others, who are out of power, be bothered about what we got? When you (Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) were in power, you had a cabinet post but of a minor portfolio like heavy industries," said Shirsat, an MLA from the Marathwada region.
Ajit Pawar not okay with MoS charge for NCP
Ajit Pawar, President of the Nationalist Congress Party and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, clarified on Sunday that his party had not joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Ministry, despite the fact that the BJP had offered his party a position as Minister of State (Independent Charge) despite his party's request for a cabinet rank.
The party chose not to settle for the MoS (Independent Charge) position because its Working President Praful Patel was overwhelmingly endorsed for minister and had previously served in the Cabinet. Pawar, on the other hand, stated unequivocally that the NCP would remain a member of the NDA and would continue to provide support in the future.
"The party had taken a decision that Working President Praful Patel would represent it in the Union Cabinet. However, during discussions, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and JP Nadda communicated that NDA allies have been offered the MoS (Independent Charge). Praful Patel had worked as a Cabinet minister earlier and it would have been his demotion. The BJP leaders indicated that it would not be possible to accommodate Patel in the Cabinet as other allies have been offered MoS (Independent (Charge). BJP leaders, however, said that our request will be considered during expansion. Therefore, it was decided that the NCP will not join the cabinet but will continue to support the NDA," he said per IANS report.
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