Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that the his Cabinet wil not be expanded till floor test is complete. The BJP government needs to prove its majorit on the floor of the House within 15 days of swearing-in.
Reacting to speculations over Shiv Sena insisting on joining govt before floor test, CM Fadnavis said "There is no condition. If by joining the government they mean inducting ministers in the Cabinet that will happen only after the floor test. They also understand that."
Shiv Sena has stepped up pressure on its former ally BJP so that the decision could be taken on the power sharing before the floor test. The BJP strength in the 288-member Assembly is 121, but it claims of having support of all seven independents and some smaller parties.
The Nationalist Congress Party with 41 MLAs has also declared unconditional outside support to the BJP.
When questioned about inducting a deputy chief minister, CM Fadnavis said, "At this point we have not thought about it. It will be my party's decision to appoint a deputy chief minister. I'll be comfortable with any decision."
CM Fadnavis even said that talks with Shiv Sena are going well. "We are working towards including the Shiv Sena in the state Cabinet. Talks with Shiv Sena are moving in a positive direction," he said.
When Fadnavis was asked by a newspaper that whether he will act against the NCP ministers ahead of the trust vote when their support might also be needed, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him not to work with an aim to save the government.
"The PM told me that I should not work to save the government but I should work for the people of the state. I will act against any individual, whether he is from the NCP or even from BJP if required," he said.
Though, BJP is short of majority, Fadnavis said, "We are not dependent on NCP to prove our numbers.'
Following the footprints of PM Modi on a corrupt-free government, Fadnavis said, "I will do away with mandatory government sanction to probe elected representatives, bureaucrats and police officers in corruption cases."
The statements is significant as more than 70 requests for approval to probe high profile names are still pending.
Fadnavis added, "I will amend Lokayukta to give the body an independent investigating agency. Investigating agency will report to Lokayukta."
On the question of BJP leaders asking Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to express regret. For his comments against Modi during election campaign, Fadnavis said, "We were very hurt by comments made in Saamana. They were in very bad taste. Such statements belittle the person who made these statements, not the Prime Minister."
