| 05 July 2023
In a surprising turn of events, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who recently welcomed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Ajit Pawar and his associates into the state government, is now encountering resistance from his own party, Shiv Sena, over portfolio allocation. Sources close to the matter have informed India Today that MLAs from Shiv Sena are expressing their expectations for certain key portfolios to be granted to the Ajit Pawar faction, while also demanding the chief minister to reject Ajit Pawar's demand for the finance portfolio.
According to insiders, NCP ministers have insisted on portfolios such as finance and planning, power, irrigation, cooperation, and marketing, highlighting the fact that their party held these portfolios during the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Agadhi government. However, Shiv Sena leaders have voiced their opposition to allocating the finance ministry to the NCP, citing past injustices they experienced during the MVA rule. They claim that they were not allocated sufficient funds during that time.
The political landscape in Maharashtra witnessed a sudden shift after Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2. Ajit Pawar, along with eight other NCP leaders, was sworn in as a minister, and he assumed the role of deputy chief minister.
Shortly thereafter, Ajit Pawar took action within the NCP, sacking Jayant Patil, the Maharashtra NCP chief, and appointing Sunil Tatkare as the party's state unit chief. Ajit Pawar was also named the NCP's legislature wing leader. These decisions came in response to Sharad Pawar's dismissal of Praful Patel, one of the eight MLAs who joined Ajit Pawar's rebellion, for allegedly orchestrating secretive defections.
In response to the developments, the NCP has submitted a petition to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and others involved.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar and his faction have proclaimed themselves as the "real NCP," a claim that has been downplayed by Sharad Pawar. The NCP supremo has also asserted that he will establish new leadership within the party while maintaining that he remains the face of the NCP.
The ongoing resistance within Shiv Sena over portfolio allocation reflects the challenges faced by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in maintaining harmony within the newly formed government. The power struggle between the Shiv Sena and the NCP has put the allocation of key portfolios in the spotlight, with both parties aiming to secure influential positions within the state administration.
As the negotiations and discussions continue, the outcome of the portfolio allocation process will shape the dynamics of the Maharashtra government and determine how effectively it can function in the coming months. The competing demands and aspirations of the Shiv Sena and the NCP pose a significant test for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as he navigates the delicate balance of power within his party and the coalition government.
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