Maharashtra’s political corridors are abuzz with speculation of a major cabinet reshuffle after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis returned from a series of strategic meetings in New Delhi with top BJP leaders and central government officials. The visit, which focused on securing financial approvals and pushing key infrastructure projects, has now taken on a political dimension, with talks of ministerial changes gaining momentum.
According to reports, a shake-up involving up to eight cabinet portfolios is on the cards. Media Sources suggest that Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Rahul Narwekar, could be moved out of his current role, with senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar tipped as a possible replacement. Fueling these rumours, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed the reshuffle would realign power equations in light of growing dissatisfaction within the ruling coalition.
This comes amidst mounting controversies around Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, whose recent actions have drawn criticism from across party lines. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s recent remarks indirectly criticizing Kokate have only intensified the reshuffle chatter.
However, the Eknath Shinde camp appeared keen to play down the speculation. Shrikant Shinde, Lok Sabha MP and son of the Deputy CM, dismissed the reports as baseless, saying there are “no such moves on the table.”
While politics took center stage in public discourse, Fadnavis’ Delhi mission had a distinctly developmental focus. He held high-stakes meetings with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and NITI Aayog officials.
In his meeting with Sitharaman, the Chief Minister sought approvals for five big-ticket projects, including a $1 billion loan for the Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana, aimed at connecting larger villages to Maharashtra’s core road network. The total funding sought from global financial bodies crossed $3.5 billion. Sitharaman, impressed by the state’s fiscal discipline, instructed the DEA to fast-track approvals.
Further, the CM urged Nadda to push forward a proposed Rs 10,000 crore fertilizer plant in Nagpur, a joint venture between GAIL, the fertiliser ministry, and the state government. Fadnavis also sought central backing for a massive Rs 22,490 crore cement road project covering 14,000 km of rural Maharashtra.
