Rift In Mahayuti Again, This Time Over Guardian Minister Chair
A dispute has emerged in Maharashtra's Mahayuti alliance over the allocation of guardian ministership.
Cracks reopen in the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra once again, this time over allocation of guardian ministership to various ministers of the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet.
The allocations sparked a row after two senior ministers, Dada Bhuse and Bharat Gogawale, from the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, were denied any positions.
Senior party leader and minister Gulabrao Patil openly expressed displeasure over their exclusion while Shinde is also said to be unhappy over the allocation.
“Bharat Gogawale and Dada Bhuse are senior leaders and they should have been made guardian ministers. It’s unfair to them. I will ask Shinde saheb why these two senior leaders were kept away from the post of guardian minister,” Patil said.
In a bid to calm the situation and reconcile with Shinde, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Girish Mahajan and Chandrashekhar Bawankule have left for Dare village where Shinde is currently present.
The row erupted after the list of guardian ministers was announced where Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party minister Aditi Tatkare was allocated the guardian ministership of Raigad. As soon as Tatkare's name was announced, Shiv Sena Shinde group MLA Bharat Gogavale expressed his displeasure.
On the other hand, supporters of Dada Bhuse of the Shiv Sena Shinde faction also expressed their displeasure when BJP's Girish Mahajan was selected as the guardian minister of Nashik.
Following the criticism, the government announced a stay on the appointment of guardian ministers for Raigad and Nashik.
The matter has come to the fore as the first direct conflict between the two Mahayuti allies, Shiv Sena and NCP.
The appointments have sparked an internal conflict within the Shiv Sena, as well as members, questioned how Shinde allowed this to happen with senior party leaders.
On Saturday, the Maharashtra government declared the names of guardian ministers for all 36 districts with Chief Minister Devendra Fandnavis taking charge of Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district.
Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde has been allocated Mumbai city and Thane, while Ajit Pawar will oversee Beed and Pune districts.
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