The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has survived the latest reshuffle of portfolios. After the speculation that the MGP ministers would lose some of their portfolios, which would be given to new entrant in the ministry, Rajendra Arlekar, when the new portfolios were announced it was BJP ministers who lost departments and not the MGP. If the MGP survived this reshuffle it is solely because former chief minister Manohar Parrikar wants that the commitment made to the party before the 2012 polls is not broken. It is common knowledge that Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar would have preferred to clip the wings of the alliance partner by taking away a few departments from the two Dhavalikar brothers — Ramkrishna (Sudin) and Pandurang (Dipak).
That didn’t happen but the tension between the two political parties has in no way abated. On the day Arlekar was sworn in as minister, the senior of the Dhavalikars – Ramkrishna – was conspicuous by his absence and the other – Pandurang – exited from the ceremony moments after it ended without waiting to congratulate the new minister. With the speculation at that point of time that Arlekar would have been given either PWD or Transport, both departments that Ramkrishna handles, the snub from the alliance partner was indication that any change in their status would not be taken kindly.
The BJP think tank was left with no option but to divest its own ministers of some of their portfolios and the performance audit undertaken by the present and former chief ministers found three ministers lacking and took away departments from Ministers — Dayanand Mandrekar, Alina Saldanha and Milind Naik. But in keeping the MGP happy, the BJP has made its flock unhappy. This redistribution of portfolios has not received the full support of its own people, and while the BJP has kept its alliance partner happy, there is trouble brewing in the government. Some ministers, at least two of those who were divested of some portfolios, are not happy with the redistribution effected by the chief minister. Ministers Mandrekar and Saldanha who lost the departments of Panchayats and Environment and Forests respectively have made known their displeasure. Naik hasn’t said anything yet.
Mandrekar followed up his grumblings of Monday by charging the government with not being serious about the Food Security Act and saying that it has been delayed by the chief minister’s finance department. He should understand that as a minister he is part of the government and any criticism he levels at the government is also aimed at him. In trying to score a few points over the chief minister he has also directed attention to his department which is the one that is responsible for the implementation of the Act.
But it’s not just the ministers who are unhappy and sulking. St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh, who during the past few years of this term has, at various times, been critical of the government is not happy with being overlooked for a ministerial berth and has announced he was not interested in the deputy speaker’s post. He has already said he prefers to remain without a post and ‘speak his mind’ rather than be a deputy speaker and have to stay quiet.
With just about 17 months to go before the State goes to the polls again, the BJP can’t afford to sour up the pitch for itself. But it has done just that. There is dissidence in the party. Ministers and MLAs are openly critical of the government and want to speak their mind. For a party that prided itself at being very disciplined, this is nothing short of dissidence. The discontent in the party could lead to further tensions which the party could do without as it marches up to a campaign for an election that will be a referendum on its performance.
