Mahayuti Cabinet Expansion: Top Leaders Dropped, Rotation Policy Announced

The Mahayuti government, riding high on its recent assembly election victory, has excluded 12 key leaders from the cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, signaling significant shifts in political strategy.

Among the notable exclusions were Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse-Patil from the NCP, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ravindra Chavan, and Suresh Khade from the BJP, and Tanaji Sawant, Abdul Sattar, and Deepak Kesarkar from the Shiv Sena. Bhujbal’s omission was particularly surprising, given his high-profile stance against Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. As a former deputy CM under the Congress-NCP government, Bhujbal was considered a strong contender for a ministerial post. Similarly, Dilip Walse-Patil, a senior NCP leader, had recently declared himself fit for a cabinet role, dismissing health-related rumors.

BJP’s exclusion of Sudhir Mungantiwar, a veteran leader and former finance, forest, and cultural affairs minister, has raised eyebrows. Ravindra Chavan, a trusted aide of CM Devendra Fadnavis and a key figure in the Konkan region’s development, was also unexpectedly been left out. However, reports suggest that Chavan may be positioned to become the BJP’s state unit chief. Suresh Khade, representing the Scheduled Caste community from Sangli, and Vijaykumar Gavit, a tribal leader from Nandurbar, were also dropped, signaling the BJP's evolving approach to community representation.

In the Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde faced internal pressure before deciding to drop leaders like Tanaji Sawant, Abdul Sattar, and Deepak Kesarkar. Sources indicate that the BJP played a significant role in these exclusions. Despite the omissions, both the NCP and Shiv Sena assured their leaders that future opportunities would arise.

In addition, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar outlined a rotation policy, promising that many legislators would get a chance to serve as ministers over the course of the government’s tenure. “During this government’s tenure, many legislators will get a chance to serve as ministers, ensuring diverse representation across regions,” Pawar said, addressing party workers in Nagpur.

The Shiv Sena adopted a similar approach, requiring ministers to sign agreements granting Eknath Shinde the authority to make cabinet changes as needed. Newly sworn-in ministers Shambhuraj Desai, Uday Samant, and Sanjay Shirsat expressed support for the decision, emphasizing performance-based evaluations. Desai stated, “We have provided in writing that CM Shinde can make changes to the cabinet whenever necessary, giving opportunities to others.”

Ajit Pawar further reiterated the Mahayuti’s commitment to inclusive governance. “This rotation policy ensures balanced representation from various districts and communities,” he added.​