Fissures within Mahayuti now visible in Assembly: BJP MLAs question Sena minister Bhuse for delay in scheme, he points to Ajit Pawar’s dept for stalling it

School Education Minister Dada Bhuse answered questions about the delay in approving the Chief Minister Vidyarthi Vigyan Vari scheme.

During the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, School Education Minister and Shiv Sena leader Dada Bhuse pointed fingers at the Planning Department, controlled by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, for not giving the 'go-ahead' and raising objections to the demand. (File)

Disagreements among the three allies of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra surfaced Thursday over the pending approval of a scheme aimed at revamping the government’s science exhibitions, which involve schoolchildren’s participation.

During the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, School Education Minister and Shiv Sena leader Dada Bhuse pointed fingers at the Planning Department, controlled by Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar, for not giving the ‘go-ahead’ and instead raising objections to the demand for increased funds.

BJP MLAs were questioning Bhuse for not launching the Chief Minister Vidyarthi Vigyan Vari scheme. Under this, students with the top 21 projects from the tehsil-level competition will be taken to a division-level science centre.

Top 51 projects from the district-level competition will be taken to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru, while 51 finalists from the state-level competition will be taken on an educational tour to Nasa.

“Though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved the proposal sent to him by Minister of State (Education) in June 2025, the project has yet not started,” BJP MLA Ameet Satam said. The MoS Education is Pankaj Bhoyar of the BJP.Satam was joined by another BJP MLA, Devayani Farande, who demanded to know the reasons behind the delay and whether the project will begin within a year.

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“As a responsible minister, I should not be disclosing everything here. But I will, since it is being portrayed as if I am stalling the scheme,” said Bhuse.“The prize money is increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 51,000, to which the Planning Department has raised objections, questioning the rise in amount. There are remarks raised on the total increase of the budget,” he said, adding that once it is cleared, the matter will be taken in front of the Cabinet.Congress MLA Nana Patole pointed out that the tussle among the three ruling parties has escalated to the point that it is now affecting the implementation of schemes. CM Fadnavis assured that appropriate steps will be taken for the implementation.

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