Mumbai: Hectic lobbying is taking place for ministership in the new government in Maharashtra. From the BJP quota, Ashish Shelar, Bandra MLA and president of the city unit of the party, is most likely to be inducted with cabinet rank and entrusted with an important portfolio.
He is known for his proximity to Union home minister Amit Shah, Kalidas Kolambkar, nine time MLA from Bhoiwada, is also a favoured candidate. He was made the protem speaker soon after Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as the chief minister.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, MLA from Malabar Hill, is most likely to be retained in the new team. He may also be repeated as a guardian minister of Mumbai suburbs. Nitesh Rane, the fire brand MLA from Kankavali, is likely ot be an young entrant. He is a hardcore supporter of Hindutva and since Fadnavis has declared that Hindutva will be a guiding ideology of the new government, Rane is likely to be inducted.
The name of three-time MLA from Sion Koliwada, Capt Tamil Selvan, is also being considered for induction. He is the only south Indian MLA and the south lobby is pressing for his inclusion.
From the Shiv Sena, Tanaji Sawant’s name is being mentioned prominently. A prominent member of the Maratha caste, he was the minister for health in the erstwhile Maha Yuti ministry. As health minister he took several people-centric initiatives which helped the Maha Yuti coaliton romp home. Sawant started a scheme for free checkups and treatments for men above 18 years. and above. This benefitted over five million men across Maharashtra.
Under the ‘Mata Surakshit Tar Ghar Surakshit’ scheme, health checkups were conducted for a record 4.39 crore women across the state. Of these, 52.52 lakh mothers underwent successful surgeries free of cost, marking nearly 100% outreach to women voters.
The ‘Jagruk Palak, Sudhrudh Balak’ scheme provided health checkups and allied services to over 2.41 crore children aged 0 to 18, covering 70% of children across the state.
For the first time in Pandharpur Wari’s history, over 11 lakh warkaris (pilgrims) received free health checkups and services during the Maha Aarogya Shibir. Similarly, a three-day mega health camp was conducted during the Tuljapur Navratri festival, benefitting thousands of devotees.
About three crore Ayushman Bharat Digital Health (Aabha) Cards were generated and more than 20,000 recruitments were conducted in Class 3 and 4 categories in the health department.
