Two Pune MLAs Madhuri Misal and Chandrakant Patil Included in Maharashtra State Cabinet Expansion
Pune, 15th December 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have included two leaders from Pune in the latest expansion of the Maharashtra state cabinet. BJP’s four-time MLA Madhuri Misal from Parvati constituency has been appointed as Minister of State, marking her first cabinet position. Alongside her, senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil has also retained his cabinet position.
From the Nationalist Congress Party, Indapur MLA Datta Bharne has been named Minister of State under the leadership of Ajit Pawar in the grand alliance (Mahayuti) government. Bharne, who previously served as a Minister of State in the 2019 Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and as Guardian Minister of Solapur, returns to the cabinet with this appointment.
Selection Amid Speculation
The cabinet expansion had sparked curiosity about which leaders from Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and surrounding rural areas would be chosen. While Ajit Pawar’s inclusion was a certainty, there was speculation about whether former minister Chandrakant Patil would continue in the cabinet. The BJP not only retained Patil but also gave an opportunity to Madhuri Misal, whose name had been under consideration in previous cabinet discussions.
Other prominent BJP leaders from Pune, such as Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge, Daund MLA Rahul Kul, and four-time Khadakwasla MLA Bhimrao Tapkir, were also rumored to be in contention but were not included in this round of appointments.
A Balanced Representation
With the inclusion of Madhuri Misal, the BJP has highlighted her long-standing contribution as a four-term MLA. Her appointment aims to bring more representation to the Pune region within the cabinet. Similarly, Datta Bharne’s reappointment by the NCP strengthens his political position and reflects his past experience in handling key ministerial roles.
The latest cabinet expansion comes as part of the grand alliance formed between the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena, aiming to balance regional and political representation across Maharashtra.
