Amid delay in portfolio distribution & discontent among MLAs, Ajit skips winter session for second day

Amid speculations that Pawar will get the Finance portfolio, on Monday, cabinet minister Uday Samant from Shiv Sena had presented the supplementary demands.

Written by Alok Deshpande

Nagpur | December 17, 2024 08:50 PM IST

2 min read

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who holds the finance portfolio now, was the finance minister then as well (Express Archives)

Amid the delay in cabinet portfolio allocation and discontent among MLAs who were denied ministerial berths, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar skipped the first two days of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature.
Pawar had reportedly gone to New Delhi on Monday.

On Tuesday, Pawar skipped the proceedings of the legislature and did not attend any of the meetings. “I cannot comment on whether he has gone to Delhi or on why he has not come to the legislature,” said NCP MLA Anil Patil. Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took jibe at Pawar stating that he has a habit of being unreachable.

“Should we wait for the early morning to see what is happening?,” Thackeray asked, referring to the early morning swearing in ceremony of Ajit Pawar with Devendra Fadnavis in 2019.

Amid speculations that Pawar will get the Finance portfolio, on Monday, cabinet minister Uday Samant from Shiv Sena had presented the supplementary demands. Sources within the government said that heavy negotiations over the portfolio distribution are in progress and the NCP was lobbying for the Housing portfolio.

“The NCP seem to have made the Housing portfolio a prestige issue. There is no problem with Ajit Pawar getting Finance department as of now. But with huge stakes in Housing, all three parties are hoping to get the portfolio,” a senior official from the state government said.

In addition to portfolio distribution, senior party leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal openly expressing discontent over denial of cabinet berth has also cornered Ajit Pawar.

“Not a single leader come forward to defend the party and Ajit Pawar. This means, he will have to answer everything. Until issues are sorted out, he is choosing to play silent,” a party legislator said.

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On December 15, the cabinet expansion took place where 39 ministers were sworn in. Addressing a press conference on that day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the distribution of cabinet portfolio will be completed within two days.

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