Maharashtra Govt Hits Pause on Guardian Minister Appointments for Nashik and Raigad Amid Political Stir

Maharashtra: The Maharashtra government, on Saturday, appointed guardian ministers for 36 districts, sparking political waves. NCP's Aditi Tatkare was assigned Raigad and BJP's Girish Mahajan took charge of Nashik. However, on Sunday, a sudden order from the General Administration Department stayed the appointments for both districts, causing cracks to show in the newly formed BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena government.

This development followed growing tension between political heavyweights. In Raigad, where key developments such as an international airport and new residential areas are underway, Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogawale was reportedly irked over the assignment of the post to Tatkare, as he had expected the role himself. Similarly, Shiv Sena's Dada Bhuse, hailing from Nashik, expressed displeasure when the guardian minister position was handed to BJP’s Girish Mahajan, a close ally of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The guardian minister's role is pivotal for overseeing fund distribution for district development projects, making it a position of power often linked to political control and influence.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, intervened in the situation, prompting the General Administration Department to halt the appointments until further notice. This decision adds to the ongoing political maneuvering within Maharashtra's ruling coalition, setting the stage for potential confrontations in future district-level politics.