BJP Leader Claims His Name Was Initially on Ministerial List, Expresses No Discontent

GG News Bureau
Nagpur, 16th Dec. Senior BJP leader from Maharashtra, Sudhir Mungantiwar, on Monday, claimed that his name was initially included in the list of ministers who took the oath a day before, but it was later removed. The claim came a day after Mungantiwar failed to secure a place in the expanded Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet.

Despite the disappointment, Mungantiwar emphasized that he was not upset and described himself as an “organisation man.” Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, he assured that he would continue to work for the welfare of his constituency and raise key issues in the legislative assembly.

“I will continue to work for the people of my constituency and highlight issues about their welfare in the legislative assembly,” Mungantiwar said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in response, hinted that the BJP leadership might assign Mungantiwar another role. “I had spoken to Mungantiwar. He is a senior leader, and the leadership may entrust him with any other responsibility,” Fadnavis said.

On Sunday, a total of 39 legislators from the Mahayuti alliance took their oath as ministers at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur, as part of the first expansion of the Fadnavis-led cabinet. The BJP secured 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 from the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde and 9 from Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Mungantiwar revealed that he had been informed earlier that his name was included in the list of ministers, but it was removed before the final announcement. “There is no reason for me to be upset, as I do my job in whatever role the party assigns to me. The only issue is that I was told that my name was there (in the list of ministers), but it wasn’t there yesterday. I don’t know why my name was removed,” said Mungantiwar, a seven-time BJP MLA.

Although Mungantiwar was in Nagpur, he did not attend the legislature session on the first day. When questioned if the BJP leadership was upset with him, he remarked that such matters would be addressed directly. “Maybe the BJP has some other responsibility planned for me,” he added.

Mungantiwar later met Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari, describing the meeting as one between an elder brother and a younger brother. “When such things come up, I take his guidance,” he said.