Following the swearing-in of 39 ministers on Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday that portfolios will be allocated to new ministers in the next two to three days.
Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur ahead of the winter session of the state assembly, Fadnavis emphasised that a performance audit would be conducted for all ministers, requiring them to deliver tangible results.
Fadnavis explained, “The three leaders of the Mahayuti alliance (Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar) have agreed that the tenure of each minister will be two and a half years, with a performance audit of their work. I communicated this during my first cabinet meeting held earlier today.” Those who fail to perform may be replaced before the term ends, he added.
The CM also expressed his readiness to respond to any allegations raised by the opposition during the assembly session, particularly regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He said, “The opposition may try to create a false narrative about EVMs, but we will counter it strongly. EVM stands for Every Vote for Magnetic Maharashtra.”
During the winter session, 20 bills are expected to be introduced, along with discussions on supplementary demands and the Governor’s speech. Fadnavis stated, “We are prepared to answer and debate every issue raised in the assembly. However, opposition parties should raise these issues within the assembly rather than in the media. Creating chaos before the media serves no purpose.”
Fadnavis also clarified that the decision to appoint the opposition leader in the assembly rests with the Speaker, and the ruling party will respect whatever decision is made.
When asked about the representation of women in his cabinet, Fadnavis remarked, “There was only one woman in the previous cabinet, but now there are four. In the next cabinet, while there may not be room for us, women’s participation will increase.”
Responding to the recent killing of a Beed Sarpanch, Fadnavis described the incident as unfortunate. He assured that action had been taken.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed strong support for Fadnavis, saying, “I will stand firmly behind Devendra Fadnavis. We have a responsibility to the people. During this time, we have ensured justice for Vidarbha, and in the coming period, we will work with even greater momentum to provide the people with a government focused on their needs.”
Shinde further highlighted that the development work carried out by the Mahayuti government in the last two and a half years had achieved the highest success rate in the country.
Shinde assured that the government would continue to focus on the public’s welfare and the state’s overall development, with the goal of realising the dream of a one-trillion-dollar economy for Maharashtra.
When asked about the possibility of Ajit Pawar becoming the CM, Pawar, who was present at the event, responded humorously, “I could be the chief minister for two and a half months.”
