Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken a strong stand to end growing friction within his Cabinet by issuing a firm directive: Ministers of State (MoS) must be given defined responsibilities and not be sidelined. The move comes in response to rising tensions between MoS Madhuri Misal and senior Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat, whose power tussle recently spilled into public view.
Misal had faced objections from Shirsat for calling departmental review meetings, prompting both leaders to escalate their grievances to the Chief Minister’s Office. Reacting swiftly, Fadnavis made it clear that junior ministers are not mere figureheads. “Many MoS are experienced lawmakers and have every right to perform core functions, including holding review meetings and administrative oversight,” he is believed to have said in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
Of the 42-member Maharashtra Cabinet, only six hold MoS positions — Ashish Jaiswal, Madhuri Misal, Pankaj Bhoyar, Meghna Sakore Bordikar, Indraneel Naik, and Yogesh Kadam. Despite their credentials, most have been kept on the sidelines with no significant work allotted. Fadnavis noted that only he and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar have delegated proper responsibilities to their junior counterparts, setting an example for others.
Without naming individuals, Fadnavis reportedly criticized certain senior ministers for deliberately bypassing their MoS, even in basic departmental tasks. In some ministries, secretaries have been instructed directly by senior ministers, effectively cutting MoS out of the administrative loop. Fadnavis warned that this trend reflects poorly on Cabinet discipline and governance ethics.
Citing controversies involving ministers such as Shirsat, Manikrao Kokate, and Yogesh Kadam, Fadnavis is said to have made a pointed remark — no one is indispensable, and the political bench is deep with ambitious leaders waiting for an opportunity. The statement is seen as both a warning and a signal of a possible reshuffle if the internal conflicts persist.
