Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: Deepak Kesarkar Names 19th Minister, Next Expansion To Take Place In September
Mumbai, 10th August 2022: After a long wait, the new Maharashtra Government finally expanded its cabinet on Tuesday. Deepak Kesarkar, who was elected MLA for the third time from the Sawantwadi Assembly Constituency, also garnered a spot in the expansion. After rebelling against Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde appointed him as the spokesperson of his faction. He has already been given a ministerial post in the first phase.
Chief Minister Shinde and his government have been facing criticism following the expansion. Questions were raised about the absence of some ministers and women. Meanwhile, Kesarkar has announced the name of the 19th minister.
“In the first phase, there are two ministers from Konkan. Uday Samant and I. So I think Bharat Gogawale will get a chance in the second phase. I was also upset that his name was not on the list. It is the right of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister to appoint a seat in the cabinet.”
Kesarkar has said that if the seats had been increased by one, it would have been adjusted. He also said that the cabinet will be further expanded in September after the monsoon session.
In the cabinet expansion, Sanjay Shirsat, Bachchu Kadu, and Rajendra Yedravakar of the Shinde faction have also not received spots, leading to talk of resentment in the Shinde faction. Reports of a fight between Sanjay Shirsat and Eknath Shinde have also come to light. The opposition has started criticizing the appointment of Sanjay Rathod and Abdul Sattar as ministers. On this matter, Deepak Kesarkar said that there is no resentment among the MLAs. Seemingly, Bharat Gogawale may receive the minister’s post. Kesarkar also clarified that, so far, only 18 out of 42 ministers have taken the oath.
Talking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that the second round of cabinet expansion will be held in September.
Kesarkar started his career as the President of Sawantwadi Rotary Club. He entered politics by chance. During 1992-93, he became the President of Sawantwadi Taluka of Congress, following which he never turned back. Kesarkar became MLA for the first time in 2009 through NCP. He has held various positions, like the city president of Sawantwadi and then the district president of NCP. Later he joined Shiv Sena and then Shinde faction.
