Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar expressed surprise over his exclusion from the expanded Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet but emphasized that he remains committed to the party and his constituency. "I am not upset. I will continue to work for the people of my constituency and raise their issues in the legislative assembly," Mungantiwar told reporters in Nagpur on Monday.

The first cabinet expansion, held at Raj Bhavan on Sunday, saw 39 Mahayuti alliance legislators being inducted as ministers?33 with cabinet rank and six as ministers of state. The BJP secured 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine from Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Mungantiwar, a seven-time BJP MLA, claimed he was informed earlier that his name was included in the ministerial list. ?I was told my name was there. But yesterday, it wasn?t. I don?t know why it was removed,? he said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hinted that Mungantiwar might be assigned a different role. ?I had spoken to Mungantiwar. He is a senior leader, and the leadership may entrust him with another responsibility,? Fadnavis said.

Mungantiwar denied speculation about tensions with the BJP leadership, stating, "If they were upset with me, they would have communicated it directly, not through the denial of a ministerial position." He also suggested that the party might have other plans for him.

On Monday, Mungantiwar met Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari at his residence, describing the interaction as one between "an elder brother and a younger brother." ?When such things happen, I seek his guidance,? he added.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Mungantiwar reaffirmed his dedication to the BJP and his readiness to take on any role assigned by the party. His absence from the first day of the legislative session, despite being in Nagpur, raised eyebrows but did not dampen his commitment to his constituents and the party?s objectives.