Maharashtra’s Mahayuti Government Faces Guardian Minister Hurdle

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. The Mahayuti government in Maharashtra faces competition for guardian minister posts after portfolio allocation.
2. Each of the 36 districts appoints a guardian minister to oversee district development.
3. Competition is intense in key districts like Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Raigad, Nashik, and Satara.
4. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar are expected to become guardian ministers for Thane and Pune, respectively.
5. The rivalry between Pankaja Munde and Dhananjay Munde in Beed is particularly notable.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Maharashtra’s Mahayuti Government Faces Guardian Minister Hurdle

After the allocation of portfolios in the newly-formed Mahayuti 2.0 government in Maharashtra, intense competition has emerged among senior ministers vying for the coveted guardian minister posts of their respective districts. Each of Maharashtra’s 36 districts appoints a guardian minister, typically from the same district, to oversee development and facilitate district-level initiatives.

Portfolio Allocation and Emerging Rivalries

The state’s council of ministers has now expanded to 42 members, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Competition for the guardian minister posts is particularly fierce in key districts such as Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Raigad, Nashik, and Satara.

Key District Contests

According to sources, Eknath Shinde is poised to take on the role of guardian minister for Thane district, while Ajit Pawar is expected to oversee Pune district. In Beed, the rivalry between cousins Pankaja Munde and Dhananjay Munde is at the forefront. Dhananjay Munde, who faced allegations of links to the accused in the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, secured a ministerial position with Ajit Pawar’s support.

Other District Struggles

In Raigad, Bharat Gogavale and Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare are both contenders for the guardian minister position. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) Minister Sanjay Shirsat and BJP leader Atul Save are competing for the role.

Key Takeaways to Remember

1. The Mahayuti government faces intense competition for guardian minister posts.
2. Key districts see strong contenders vying for the coveted roles.
3. The guardian minister oversees district development and administrative coordination.
4. The position acts as a bridge between the state government and district administration.
5. The guardian minister also serves as the ex-officio chairperson of the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC).

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

See Full Bio