No guardian ministers, annual meet ahead of Budget for Nashik, Raigad postponed

He has also been meeting district administrations to discuss the annual plan for the next fiscal. On Monday, the Finance minister held a meeting of the Konkan and Nashik division. However, the meetings of Raigad and Nashik were not held.

“The matter was discussed with the CM office. As per the existing rule, if the district does not have a guardian minister, the divisional commissioner can lead the district’s side,” an official from the Finance department said. The meetings have now been planned for Tuesday.

The initial appointment of Aditi Tatkare of NCP and Girish Mahajan of BJP as guardian ministers for Raigad and Nashik districts respectively was stayed after the discontent from the Shiv Sena camp. The Sena has staked claim on both the districts.

Sena ministers Bharat Gogawale and Dada Bhuse are claimants for Raigad and Nasik districts respectively.
Apart from Raigad and Nashik, meetings for Thane and Mumbai city too had to be postponed after Deputy CM and guardian minister Eknath Shinde did not turn up for the meeting.

Shinde also cancelled the planned review meeting of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation on Monday.
“He had informed our office that he was feeling weak and could not attend the meeting. Ajit dada decided to wait for him and now these two meetings will also take place on Tuesday,” said the official.

This is the third time in three weeks that Shinde did not attend important meetings. Two weeks ago, he was not present in the cabinet meeting. Last week, he remained absent from the war room meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The official however maintained that the Shinde’s office had conveyed in advance that he will not be able to attend the meeting on Monday morning.

In addition to these four districts, a meeting for Ahmadnagar district has also not been held. “On Tuesday, all these five districts will be completed,” the official said.