M A I N   N E W S

On Day 1, BJP faces Sena trouble
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 27
The ruling BJP is facing ally trouble on the first day of its government. Unhappy over being given only one ministerial berth and that, too, the “inconsequential” Heavy Industries’ portfolio by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP’s long-standing ally — the Shiv Sena — seems to be on a warpath.

Sources say Anant Geete, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena in the Modi Cabinet, did not assume the charge of the Heavy Industries Ministry, apparently because of the discontent over the portfolio.

Sena sources said being the second largest party in the NDA with 18 members in the Lok Sabha, they were expecting “more and better” ministerial berths. “However, all allies — the Akali Dal (four MPs), the TDP (16 MPs) and the Shiv Sena (18 MPs) — had been painted with the same brush: one Cabinet post,” a source said.

Incidentally, TDP’s Ashok Gajapati Raju, too, is yet to take charge of his office — the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Sena leaders see a bigger plot. They say that Modi has given two Cabinet posts — Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari — two MoS with Independent charge — Praksah Javadekar and Piyush Goyal — and one MoS — Raosaheb Dadarao Danve — in all five berths to BJP leaders from poll-bound Maharashtra.

In comparison, the Shiv Sena has been given only one berth. “This obviously means that the BJP wants to undermine our position in the state, which will go to polls soon. The decision has put us in a tight spot. What do we approach the voters with now?” a source asked.

Though the BJP is not responding on the issue, saying that the ball was now in the court of the Modi-led government, sources say an arrangement may be worked out to placate the Shiv Sena if the BJP wants to ally with it in the upcoming state elections. “The PM will take the final call on this. He may promise them an extra portfolio in expansion or offer a better arrangement in the state elections,” a source said.

Anant Gete refuses to take charge

• Anant Geete, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena in the Modi Cabinet, did not assume charge of the Heavy Industries Ministry
• Sena sources said being the second largest party in the NDA with 18 members in the Lok Sabha, they were expecting “more and better” ministerial berths

Uddhav to take call today

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision on Wednesday on whether or not to accept portfolio, said Geete