18 November,2010 08:04 AM IST | | Sanjeev Devasia
Despite Prithviraj Chavan's promise to elect cabinet with fresh, clean faces, many seasoned Congress ministers may be inducted for want of better choice
The more things change, the more they remain the same.u00a0This adage finds an echo in the new state cabinet.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan with Congress leader Manikrao Thakre outside NCP chief Sharad Pawar's bungalow. The MiD DAY report on November 11
Although Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had claimed that the Congress would provide a clean government with fresh faces without a taint, Congress sources said the party would have to retain many old ministers.
"Most senior cabinet ministers of the erstwhile government seem set to retain their berths in the cabinet," the sources said.
Experience counts
Seasoned hands like Narayan Rane, Balasaheb Thorat, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil and Patangrao Kadam will, in all likelihood, find a berth in the new cabinet.
"This is because the Congress does not have much of an alternative at finding experienced people capable of handling crucial portfolios," the sources added.
Before Chavan was appointed chief minister, Thorat and Vikhe Patil's names were in the running for the post.
Another reason the party cannot afford to install greenhorns is that it requires to keep its ally, the NCP, in check in the cabinet.
"This can be done by aggressive ministers like Narayan Rane who has good experience as a minister and chief minister," the sources said.
However, a question mark hangs over the inclusion of former ministers like Rajendra Darda, Subhash Janak, Nitin Raut and Naseem Khan.
Dropping Raut, said sources, would be tough for the Congress, as it would have to find another Dalit face from Vidarbha from where Raut hails.
The Congress may, however, bring about changes in terms of minister of state, including a few from the Rahul brigade.
"Some of the present ministers of state who may find themselves out in the cold, include Abdul Sattar, Ramesh Bagwe and Varsha Gaikwad," said sources.
"The Congress may, however, have to find a replacement for Bagwe to balance the caste equation."
Bagwe belongs to the Matang community, a scheduled caste.
No RR for Home?
THE NCP seems set to maintain a status quo in terms of its ministers.
However, several NCP MLAs are said to have complained to their senior against RR Patil and also demanded that he should not be nominated home minister again.
"Most of them feel Patil does not serve the interests of party workers and leaders," said party sources. "Supporters of Ajit Pawar may have instigated this."
RR Patil enjoys a clean image within the party and this perception holds across party lines.
Who's in, Who's Out?
Likely in
Narayan Rane
Balasaheb Thorat
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil
Harshvardhan Patil
Patangrao Kadam
Uncertain
Naseem Khan
Rajendra Darda
Subhash Janak
Nitin Raut
Slim Chance
Ramesh Bagwe
Abdul Sattar
Varsha Gaikwad
