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| By Samudranil Mukherjee |
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Monday, November 09, 2009 (09:53:09) |
| Tags : India, Maharashtra, RR Patil |
Patil returns as home minister |
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| Mumbai: RR Patil returns as home minister of Maharashtra after a year has passed since the tragic events of 26/11 in Mumbai. He had previously stepped down from this post after the calamitous happenings. At that point of time he had issued a statement in Hindi where he had supposedly tried to bring down the significance of the events that took place for those couple of days.
This statement could be attributed to be one of the reasons why he was asked to vacate his position. That particular statement, that actually portrayed him rather unflatteringly, could be blamed on the fact that Patils knowledge of Hindi, the national language of India, is inadequate. Even though Pawar was in favor of his reinstatement as a home minister he was the first choice when it came to Congress as well.
The deputy chief minister, Chagan Bhujbal, was a candidate for the post as well. When the procedures of negotiation for portfolios were on, he had said that it was preferable that Congress followed the formula it had adopted during 1999 with regards to sharing of power. Else, according to him, the NCP would be providing its support the Congress but from outside.
The main reason for the late finalization of portfolios for the Maharashtra government was the conflict of views between the NCP and Congress. It was 11:30 pm when Ashok Chavan, the chief minister of Maharashtra came up with the announcement of portfolios on Sunday.
The revenue portfolio seemed to attract the maximum attention. Senior ministers of the Congress Patangrao Kadam and Narayan Rane argued for the portfolio, which is both politically sensitive and financially rewarding, throughout the day. Both of them desired it for the purpose of gaining significant amount of bureaucratic control. It was finally allotted to Rane by Chavan.
Chagan Bhujbal received the Public Works Department portfolio just like the previous time he was part of the Maharashtra government. Chagan has allotted himself the General Administration Department and urban development a very important portfolio. He would be looking after the portfolios of cultural affairs and housing.
Ajit Pawar, a senior member of the NCP and Sharad Pawars nephew has been allotted the water and energy conservation portfolios these are among the major infrastructural portfolios.
Sunil Tatkare became the finance minister was previously the energy minister. Suresh Shetty, the MLA of Andheri, has received the sports and environment portfolios along with public health. Jayant Patil received the rural development portfolio. He was previously responsible for home ministry. His portfolio includes a number of welfare schemes for the economically backward at the rural areas.
Sachin Ahir, who is the MLA of Worli, is now looking after housing. Balasaheb Thorat would be responsible for school education along with agriculture. Rajendra Darda would be handling the industries ministry. (INA) |
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