Mumbai, December 31: A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his cabinet, an editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, Saamana acknowledged that "original Shiv Sainiks" were not given ministership. The Saamana editorial on Tuesday also explained that some Shiv Sena legislators were ignored to accommodate Independent MLAs who support the tri-party government in the state. Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Raut Rubbishes Rumours of Quitting Seat.

"Diwakar Raote, Ramdas Kadam, Tanaji Sawant, Deepak Kesarkar, Ravindra Waikar did not get another chance from the Shiv Sena. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray became the MLA for the first time and now he’s in the cabinet... With the Independents, Bacchu Kadu, Shankarrao Gadakh, and Rajendra Yedravkar becoming ministers from Shiv Sena quota, original Shiv Sainiks lost the opportunity," read the Saamana editorial. Sharad Pawar Reveals What Made Shiv Sena Accept 'Secularism'.

Shiv Sena legislators Tanaji Sawant, Sunil Prabhu and Bhaskar Jadhav skipped the swearing-in ceremony of newly-inducted ministers as they are reportedly unhappy for being overlooked for ministerial berths. Moreover, Sanjay Raut, who was instrumental in sealing Shiv Sena's alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), did not attend the swearing-in ceremony. Raut was reportedly miffed as his brother and MLA Sunil Raut was not inducted.

However, Raut later said that there was no resentment. Notably, Raut is the executive editor of Saamana. "There are limitations on how many people can be accommodated in the council of ministers. This is a three-party government," CM Uddhav Thackeray was quoted as saying after the cabinet expansion. The total strength of the ministry has gone up to 43, including CM Thackeray and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2019 02:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).