Mumbai: More than two weeks after the Maharashtra Assembly election results, the Mahayuti coalition, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is yet to announce its cabinet expansion.

While Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met senior leaders in Delhi on Wednesday, the absence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has fueled speculation about internal dissent. Reports suggest that cabinet expansion discussions were central to Fadnavis and Pawar’s Delhi visit, where they engaged with Union ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, Shinde remained in Thane, reportedly dissatisfied with certain developments.

Maharashtra BJP Chief CHandrashekhar Bawankule Visits Deputy CM Eknath Shinde In Tahne

BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited Shinde in Thane and facilitated a conversation with Fadnavis, attempting to address grievances related to portfolio allocations. Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena is embroiled in intense lobbying for ministerial positions. Speculation abounds that Shinde is advocating a rotational system for distributing portfolios among his MLAs, with two-and-a-half-year terms to placate multiple factions. However, some MLAs argue for new faces, criticizing the lackluster performance of previous ministers.

Shinde is reportedly vying for key portfolios, including Home, Revenue, and Urban Development. Among these, the Urban Development portfolio is said to have been promised during negotiations. Shinde’s demands and the BJP’s willingness to meet them remain contentious. Observers note that Ajit Pawar’s proximity to the BJP could be leveraged to counterbalance Shinde’s influence. Adding to the tension, Shinde is reportedly unhappy with the BJP’s exclusion of his close associates, including Sanjay Rathod, Tanaji Sawant, and Abdul Sattar, from ministerial considerations.

Root Of The Dissatisfaction

The dissatisfaction stems from a performance evaluation of ministers who served under Shinde from June 2022 until the elections. The cabinet expansion is critical, with the winter session of the state legislature scheduled to begin on December 16 in Nagpur. The Mahayuti leadership is under pressure to finalize portfolios and ensure smooth governance. While Fadnavis and Pawar navigated the power corridors of Delhi, Shinde’s conspicuous absence has raised eyebrows. Political observers speculate whether his actions signal discontent or a calculated move to assert his demands. A crucial Mahayuti meeting on Thursday may provide clarity on the impasse.

During his Delhi visit, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. These engagements, while routine, underscore the BJP’s focus on aligning state and central government priorities. As the lobbying intensifies, the power struggle within the Mahayuti could redefine Maharashtra’s political landscape. Whether the BJP accommodates Shinde’s demands or sidelines him using Pawar’s support will determine the coalition’s stability in the coming weeks.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended wishes to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on his 84th birthday and prayed for his long and healthy life.

“Birthday wishes to Rajya Sabha MP and senior leader Sharad Pawar Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life,” posted PM Modi on X.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Extends His Wishes

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha also wished NCP chief Sharad Pawar on X.

“Happy Birthday to Nationalist Congress (@NCPspeaks) Party President, Former Union Minister Sharad Pawar. Wish you good health and long life,” Kharge posted.

Meanwhile, posters, extending birthday greetings to NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar were put up outside his residence in Delhi.

Who Is Sharad Pawar?

Sharad Pawar, known to the masses as Saheb, was born on December 12, 1940. Hailing from a family in Baramati, Pune, Pawar started early in politics and became president of the State Youth Congress at 24 and a member of the State Cabinet 5 years later.

Pawar has been Chief Minister of Maharashtra for seven years out of his 32 years in politics. During these years, Maharashtra became and retained a position as the leading industrial state in the country and also a state with a very managed treasury.

Pawar has always stood for a society free of caste and communal biases. As Chief Minister he has consistently encouraged people of different communities, living in Maharashtra, to develop their special cultural and ethnic identity while contributing to the overall development of the state.

Pawar is an economic liberal and believes that only large-scale investment leading to rapid economic development and increased employment makes a country a real international power.

About The Split Of NCP

Last year in July, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in his party, joined hands with the National Democratic Alliance and took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 witnessed a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, securing a landslide win with 235 seats. The results marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party also made notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively.

The NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol is with the Ajit Pawar group, following a ruling by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in February, recognising it as the official NCP. On March 19, the top court allowed the Ajit Pawar faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol, with certain conditions, including that his party would issue a public declaration that the use of the ‘clock’ symbol for Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly Elections is sub-judice and subject to the outcome of the challenge made by the Sharad Pawar group to the decision of the ECI.

It had also asked the Ajit Pawar faction to not use the name and images of Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials. Following a rift between the Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar factions of the NCP, the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawar’s party as the real NCP based on its legislative majority and allotted the ‘clock’ symbol to it. The top court had asked the Sharad Pawar faction to use the ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar’s name for upcoming elections and the “man-blowing turha” symbol.

Earlier, the apex court had directed that the Election Commission’s order of February 7 allotting ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction will continue till further orders.

A car in Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s convoy overturned on Wednesday, leaving five police officers injured.

The accident took place at the Akshaya Patra intersection in Jagatpura, Jaipur. After the accident, CM Sharma got down from his car and took the injured policemen to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, from where they were referred to Jeevan Rekha Hospital, said sources.

According to official information, the convoy left the Chief Minister’s residence at 3 p.m. The Chief Minister was going to participate in the inauguration programme of the Sohan Singh Smriti Skill Development Centre being organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati. While crossing the Jagatpura square, an accident took place at the Jagatpura intersection.

All three policemen are undergoing treatment at the Jeevan Rekha Hospital. One of the policemen injured in the accident has been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Surendra Singh, while the names of others have not been revealed yet. Sources said that one of the police officers is seriously injured and has been shifted to the ICU.

Meanwhile, doctors are yet to speak on the condition of the injured persons. Jaipur’s District Collector Jitendra Soni and Police Commissioner Beju George visited the injured persons in the hospital. CM Sharma also visited the Jeevan Rekha hospital.

Local people said that a vehicle coming from the opposite side collided with a car in the Chief Minister’s convoy, which was coming at a speed of more than 100 km per hour. Meanwhile, CM Sharma’s gesture towards the people coming down from his car and taking the injured persons is being praised by the people of the state.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. Officials said that quality health services will be provided to those injured. The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit has been organised in Jaipur since December 9 where national and international delegates met at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre near Jagatpura Circle.