Maharashtra
Maharashtra: Fadnavis to face setback as crucial finance portfolio likely to go to Ajit Pawar
Mumbai: The alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra could face internal conflicts as recent developments indicate that the finance ministry might slip out of the hands of Devendra Fadnavis to Ajit Pawar, India Today reported.
If the crucial finance portfolio is reallocated, it would be a major victory for the NCP rebel leader.
Since joining the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena coalition, he has been pressing for important portfolios for his party's ministers.
According to the report, he raised the matter during his discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, aiming to strengthen the position and influence of the NCP within the alliance.
The MPs of both the BJP and the Shiv Sena have been expressing dissatisfaction though not openly, the report said, adding that the delay in the Maharashtra cabinet expansion was caused due to a standoff between Ajit Pawar’s camp and the Eknath Shinde faction.
Deputy Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar held several meetings on July 10-11 during which the two might have resolved the differences.
NCP working president Praful Patel said on Wednesday that the issue of distribution of portfolios was “sorted out” and “the allocation of portfolios will happen in a day or two”.
Praful Patel's comments were made following his arrival in Delhi along with Ajit Pawar for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders.
During the meeting, Patel dismissed reports suggesting a deepening rift within the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance regarding the allocation of portfolios.
“We are here for a courtesy visit as Ajit Pawar didn't meet BJP leadership after taking oath as deputy chief minister,” he said.
In a surprising turn of events on July 2, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar saw a split, as his nephew Ajit Pawar and nearly three dozen MLAs joined the ruling alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP.
Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP leaders were subsequently sworn in as ministers, indicating a significant realignment of political alliances in Maharashtra.
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