Shiv Sena Claims This Cabinet Move Is Aimed At Ending Pankaja Munde's Career

There was a speculation Pritam Munde would be included in the new council of ministers, but she failed to find any place in it.

The Shiv Sena on Friday alleged that the inclusion of BJP's Rajya Sabha member Bhagwat Karad into the Union council of ministers, instead of late leader Gopinath Munde's daughter and two-time MP Pritam Munde, was a plan to finish off the political career of her sister Pankaja Munde, a former Maharashtra minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday carried out a major revamp of the Union Cabinet, as part of which Karad on took charge as the new Minister of State for Finance. Karad, 64, a doctor by profession from Maharashtra, is a first-time Member of Parliament (MP) from the Rajya Sabha. There was a speculation Pritam Munde would be included in the new council of ministers, but she failed to find any place in it. In an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'', the Shiv Sena said, "Bhagwat Karad has been made a minister of state. This is a move aimed at finishing off the (political career) of Pankaja Munde. Karad, who grew up in the shadow of BJP leader late Gopinath Munde, was made a minister instead of (Pankaja's sister) Pritam Munde. There is room to doubt whether the move is aimed at creating a division in the Vanjara community (to which Munde and Karad belong) and to teach Pankaja Munde a lesson."