MUMBAI: Senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil made it clear on Tuesday that former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane’s induction into the state cabinet is almost sure.
The announcement came a day after Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had revealed he would reshuffle his ministry reshuffle before the winter season of the state legislature and see the induction of former Shiv Sena and Congress leader Narayane Rane.
Patil said that the expansion of state cabinet would be carried out before the winter session of the state assembly which is scheduled to start at Nagpur on December 11.
“Rane would be part of the state cabinet before December 11,” he added.
When asked about the possibility of his predecessor in the revenue department Eknath Khadse’s return to the state cabinet, Patil didn’t deny the chances. However, he said that the issue is being under consideration and party president Amit Shah and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis would take the final call.
Meanwhile, Khadse, lamented over the situation in the party at a book release programs at Dhule. “Those who have given their lives for the party are being sidelined while tainted leaders are being imported,” he rued without making a mention of Rane.
Khadse, who hails from north Maharashtra, had quit the Fadnavis cabinet in June last year after allegations of impropriety in a Pune land deal.
Soon after his resignation, the state government initiated a judicial inquiry against him.
(With inputs from PTI)