Rift In Mahayuti Widens, Shinde Camp Ministers Accuse Ajit Pawar Of Withholding Project Funds

Maharashtra's ruling coalition, Mahayuti, is facing another internal strife as Shiv Sena ministers have accused Deputy CM Ajit Pawar of withholding funds and stalling development projects.

Eknath Shinde vs Ajit Pawar: The camps of the two deputy CMs have been at loggerheads since even before the elections held last year.

Source : PTI

There is seemingly no end to the political crises of alliances in Maharashtra. While rebellions brought down the Uddhav Thackeray government in 2022, the second Mahayuti government is not faring great, despite a thumping win in the last assembly elections.

There were tensions between Ajit Pawar's NCP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena going into the polls. Now, the simmering tensions within the Mahayuti ruling coalition have once again spilled out into the open. Multiple ministers from the Eknath Shinde camp are learnt to have voiced strong displeasure against Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar.

In a meeting called by CM Eknath Shinde following the state cabinet session, Shiv Sena ministers complained that Deputy Ajit Pawar has been stalling their development projects by withholding funds. "All ministers in the government must be treated equally. If Ajit Pawar doesn't release funds, how can we execute our work," questioned the aggrieved ministers. They urged CM Shinde to intervene, demanding equitable access to government resources.

Responding to their concerns, Shinde assured his ministers that he would personally speak with Ajit Pawar and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to resolve the issue.

'Final Decision On Funds Disbursal Is Not Mine': Ajit Pawar 

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar has responded to the allegations. He clarified that the distribution of funds is not solely his decision as the Finance Minister. The final approval comes from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Pawar addressed these concerns during a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislators' meeting held at Devgiri residence on Tuesday night. Referring to an earlier meeting held in Shinde's presence, where the complaints were raised, he stated that the funds would be allocated during the next round of supplementary demands, but only after approval from CM Fadnavis.