Maharashtra Cabinet portfolios announced

Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has retained the Ministry of Home, Urban Development, Housing and Health. The allocation of portfolios to his nine other ministers including two ministers of state (juniors) was announced on Sunday afternoon shortly before chief minister left for his home town Nagpur.
The information provided by the Chief Minister Office (CMO) indicated that all those portfolios which have not been assigned to any ministers will be retained by the CM.
The senior most minister Ekanth Khadse who was sulking for being denied the chief minister post has been given Ministry of Revenue, Minorities Development and Wakf, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries and State Excise. Khadse had served in the Shiv Sena and BJP government in 1995-99.
Another senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar was given ministry of finance and planning and forest departments. The five-term MLA from Ballarpur in Chandrapur district in Vidarbha had raked the controversy when he pitched the name of union minister Nitin Gadkari for the chief minister post. On Sunday, both Khadse and Mungantiwar said, “We are happy with whatever assignment we get. The idea is to work for the welfare for Maharashtra.”
The leader of opposition in state council, Vinod Tawde will hold the Ministry of School Education, Sports, Higher and Technical Education, Medical Education, Marathi Bhasha and Cultural Affairs.
Talking to The Indian Express, Tawde said, “All these education related subjects have come under one umbrella and it is a very crucial department. I am pleased with the HRD ministry as it includes both school and higher and technical and medical education.”
Prakash Mehta, the MLA from Ghatkopar East seat in Mumbai, has been given industries and mining, and parliamentary affairs. The low profile Chandrakant Patil, an MLC, has been given co-operation, marketing and textiles. He will also handle the public works (including public undertakings) department.
The daughter of late Gopinath Munde, Pankaja Munde-Palwe, has been given the ministry of rural development and water conservation, and women and child development. Gopinath Munde held the ministry of rural development in union government lead by prime minister Narendra Modi.
Asenior BJP leader Vishnu Savara, the MLA from Vikramgadh seat in Palghar district, will be in-charge of tribal development, social justice and special assistance.
Minister of State Dilip Kamble has been allotted Tribal Development, Social Justice and Special Assistance departments.
Vidya Thakur will be MoS for Rural Development and Water Conservation, and Women and Child Development departments.