In a public address at the Guru Vandana program organized by Vidyapeeth Shikshan Manch in Nagpur, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari took a swipe at political leaders, highlighting the limited capacity of ministerial positions in the government. Against the backdrop of ongoing political turmoil in Maharashtra, Gadkari emphasized that while many individuals aspire to become ministers, the available seats in the cabinet cannot be increased.
Gadkari expressed his observations on the prevailing state of affairs, stating that the people of the country are engulfed in an ocean of sorrow. He highlighted the discontent among various politicians, starting from corporators yearning to become MLAs, MLAs aspiring to be ministers, and ministers desiring more prominent departments. He suggested that it is essential to find contentment with their current roles.
Drawing an analogy, Gadkari characterized the country and society as vast bodies of unhappy souls. He further commented on the aspirations of individuals who eagerly awaited their turn to assume ministerial positions, having even prepared new suits and shoes for the occasion. However, with the current political landscape, their ambitions have been thwarted, leaving them pondering the fate of their unused attire.
Gadkari reiterated that, similar to any assembly, the capacity of the cabinet remains limited and cannot be expanded arbitrarily. His remarks come amidst the crisis triggered by Ajit Pawar, who switched sides to join the Eknath Shinde-BJP government as the Deputy Chief Minister. Since then, Maharashtra’s political scene has been fraught with upheaval. Recent reports indicate that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss power-sharing arrangements after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joined the coalition government as the third ally.
Gadkari’s comments shed light on the challenging political climate in Maharashtra, where aspirations collide with the reality of limited ministerial positions. The situation continues to evolve, and political leaders are engaged in discussions to address the power-sharing conundrum within the state.