Senior Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Dharmaraobaba Atram has publicly dismissed the possibility of his immediate induction into the Maharashtra state cabinet. This statement comes amid growing speculation about a potential vacancy created by his party colleague, Minister Manikrao Kokate, who is facing serious legal challenges.
Legal Troubles Spark Cabinet Reshuffle Rumours
The political circles in Maharashtra were abuzz after a Nashik sessions court issued an arrest warrant against sitting minister Manikrao Kokate on Wednesday. The court upheld a two-year jail sentence for Kokate in a decades-old fraud case. The case pertains to the illegal acquisition of flats under the 10% Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota.
This legal development has led opposition parties to demand Kokate's immediate resignation and disqualification from the legislature. While his exit from the cabinet is not yet official, the arrest warrant has intensified rumours about who might replace him if he is forced to resign.
Atram's Calculated Wait for 2027
Despite being a frontrunner for the position, senior leader Dharmaraobaba Atram has ruled himself out of the race for now. Speaking to the Times of India, Atram revealed a long-term plan. "I will become a minister in 2027," he stated confidently. He explained that he was promised a cabinet berth 2.5 years after the 2024 elections, leading him to believe that even if a vacancy arises now, he will not get the call.
Atram, a veteran politician from Gadchiroli, has been waiting for a cabinet position since the Mahayuti government came to power. He was initially sidelined along with Chhagan Bhujbal when the cabinet was formed. However, Bhujbal was later inducted, leaving Atram out in the cold—a move that reportedly caused him discontent initially.
Focus on Organizational Work and Future Polls
Instead of focusing on the cabinet speculation, Atram claims he is concentrating on strengthening the party at the grassroots level. He highlighted his recent work in the Aheri region, where the party contested all seats independently in the nagar parishad and panchayat polls. He also mentioned that a strategy for the upcoming zilla parishad elections will be decided once the dates are officially announced.
This period has also seen Atram somewhat distanced from the inner circle of party supremo and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Nevertheless, he maintains that a cabinet position has been assured to him in the second half of the current government's tenure, aligning with his 2027 projection.
The situation remains fluid, with no official clarity on Kokate's impending exit from the cabinet, as per party insiders. However, Atram's clear statement has temporarily quelled the rumours of an immediate reshuffle, setting the stage for a more protracted political wait until 2027.
