Latest news with #GauravshaliMaharashtra
NDTV
06-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Eknath Shinde-Ajit Pawar 'Rift' Widens As Deputy Chief Ministers Skip Events
Mumbai: The ongoing rift between the two Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra seems to have widened with both Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar skipping events organised by each other's parties or departments. Ajit Pawar was not present at the Mahabaleshwar Mahotsav, organised by the Tourism Department which is held by Shiv Sena's Shambhuraje Desai, even though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present. Minister of State for the department and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Indranil Naik was also absent. Another event where the cold war came to the fore was 'Gauravshali Maharashtra', organised by the NCP to felicitate all previous chief ministers of Maharashtra. While Sharad Pawar stayed away from the event and Uddhav Thackeray did not attend as he was travelling, Mr Shinde did not attend either. Sharad Pawar had already said there was no question of him going to the event. But Mr Shinde staying away from the event made it clear that the two Deputy CMs were not seeing eye to eye. Mr Shinde had been Maharashtra's Chief Minister between 2022 and 2024, but after the 2024 state Assembly elections, Devendra Fadnavis returned to the top state post. Further adding fuel to the fire was an outburst by Sanjay Shirsat, who is the Minister for Social Justice from Shiv Sena. Mr Shirsat hit out at Ajit Pawar for diverting Rs 413 crore from his department without any prior consultation or approval. He said he will raise the issue with Mr Shinde and Mr Fadnavis, alleging that the finance department, helmed by Ajit Pawar is weakening the department responsible for the welfare of backward classes in the state. "If the government doesn't need the social justice department, it should shut it down. But don't cripple the funds meant for the socially backward classes," a visibly upset Mr Shirsat told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar while addressing the issue. Ministers from the Shinde group have been at loggerheads with Ajit Pawar with the latter wielding considerable power over them through the all-important finance ministry. A comment made in a lighter vein has also led to speculation over the rift widening. "For several years, I have been feeling that I should also be chief minister, but that has not happened yet," Ajit Pawar said. Responding to this, Saamana, the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s mouthpiece took a dig at the NCP chief saying the partners in the Mahayuti alliance are involved in proxy war and all the top leaders want to become the chief minister. Mr Shinde is believed to upset with Ajit Pawar and had reportedly taken up the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well during his visit to Maharashtra last month. He reportedly complained about Ajit Pawar to Mr Shah for not clearing Shiv Sena's ministers' and MLAs' development funds. Ajit Pawar had downplayed reports about the issue and said, "I do not think that Eknath Shinde would complain against me to Amit Shah. I am sure if he has any issue, he will raise it with me. We regularly meet in cabinet and have other key meetings. If there are any issues, they can be resolved through the dialogue." The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi says government work is suffering and there is no coordination between ministers and departments.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Speculation over all's not well after Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde skip each other's events
Kolhapur: Both deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have skipped events hosted by each other in the past few days. This has given rise to speculation that all is not well between them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Pawar skipped the inaugural event of the tourism festival at Mahabaleshwar on May 2. Then, Shinde skipped Pawar's Gauravshali Maharashtra event held in Mumbai on May 3, where Shinde was among the former state chief ministers to be felicitated. At that event, Pawar had expressed displeasure over Shinde's absence, stating that Shinde should not send his emissary if he was unable to come. Pawar also skipped Sunday evening's concluding ceremony of the tourism festival. At that event, Shinde's close aide minister Shamburaj Desai said that if Pawar had come, it would have been easy to get assurances for funds for development of Mahabaleshwar. Later, on Monday morning, minister Pratap Sarnaik tried to dismiss "all is not well" rumours between the two deputy CMs. Tourism minister Shamburaj Desai said, "The chief minister and both deputy chief ministers have given me a free hand to boost tourism. If Ajit Pawar had been here, his finance ministry would have lessened the burden for us, and we could arrange two such mega festivals every year. But Makarand Aba (Makarand Patil, NCP minister) is here. We will take him to meet the finance minister whenever needed." On Monday, transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, who was sent by Shinde as his emissary for Ajit Pawar's event, said, "Eknath Shinde was at his village Dare, which is near Mahabaleshwar, and therefore he could not show up for Ajit Pawar's event. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ajit Pawar also had some other event lined up, and therefore he could not visit Mahabaleshwar. We are a Mahayuti govt, and all three are glued to each other." NCP veteran and minister Hasan Mushrif said that Ajit Pawar was busy with his schedule and therefore could not visit Mahabaleshwar for the concluding ceremony of the tourism festival. He, however, said that Shinde should have shown up at Gauravshali Maharashtra event, which was to felicitate living former chief ministers, and the event was not political. Meanwhile, social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat attacked Ajit Pawar for allegedly diverting funds from his department to Ladki Bahin Yojana. Responding to the allegations, NCP senior leader and minister Hasan Mushrif said that Shirsat was new to the cabinet and should have held a meeting with finance officials before attacking Pawar in public. "In reality, Ajit Pawar cannot bring money from the sky. Nor did he take the money home. The Ladki Bahin scheme was launched when Eknath Shinde was the chief minister. It is true that the state's finances are strained. This time, we could release the April dole in the first week of May. When we all have decided to run the scheme, and if for that funds are used, then it is the responsibility of all of us," said Mushrif.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pawar stays away from former CMs felicitation, 5 NCP (SP) MLAs jump ship
MUMBAI: Even as NCP founder Sharad Pawar, along with other opposition leaders, refused to attend a felicitation function of former CMs organised by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in Mumbai, five former legislators from his party jumped ship and joined Ajit on Saturday. The felicitation programme was part of the NCP's four-day festival 'Gauravshali Maharashtra', and Sharad Pawar, along with Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Narayan Rane, Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde were the invitees. Sharad Pawar said there was no question of him going, as the event was organised by the Mahayuti. Fadnavis said that he would have liked to see all the former CMs on the same dais. 'The opposition leaders should have come as it was not a political event but a festival of Maharashtra,' he said. 'Every former CM has contributed to the development of the state. I was CM thrice, and one stint was the shortest ever CM stint: just 71 hours.' Ashok Chavan and Rane attended the function. Just a few hours before, Ajit Pawar's NCP poached key leaders from North Maharashtra from Sharad Pawar's party. Former minister Gulabrao Deokar, former MLAs Satish Patil, Kailash Patil, Dilip Sonawane, Dilip Wagh and Sharad Patil joined the NCP in a function in Mumbai. Though the induction of key leaders from Jalgaon and Dhule has strengthened the party, it has also led to infighting within allies NCP and Shiv Sena. Sena leader Gulabrao Patil raised strong objections to the induction of Deokar, who had contested the assembly polls against him. Ajit, while speaking at the function, questioned why Sharad Pawar was against his joining hands with the BJP when he himself had joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in 2019. 'If you could go with the Shiv Sena (in 2019), why can't we go with the BJP?' he questioned. 'Nobody is a friend or foe of any other party permanently in politics.' The deputy CM added that the BJP government at the Centre was indispensable for Maharashtra's development, having funded projects to the tune of 'lakhs of crores'. The exchange of words between the Pawars comes after speculation that their party would eventually join hands after Ajit and Sharad Pawar attended two events together recently. Ajit, in a public function, had also showered praise on his uncle for his contribution to the state. His bitter remarks on Saturday have put paid to the conjecture, said insiders from both parties.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Do not depute anyone': Ajit Pawar as Shinde skips NCP's felicitation ceremony of former CMs
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday skipped a programme organised by Ajit Pawar-led NCP to feliciate previous Chief Ministers of Maharashtra. The NCP has organised a 'Gauravshali Maharashtra' festival between May 1 and 4 to mark 65 years of the state formation at central Mumbai 's Worli, where a felicitation of all erstwhile Chief Ministers was planned on Saturday. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, former CMs Ashok Chavan and Narayan Rane (all from the BJP) attended the function. NCP-SP chief and Ajit Pawar's estranged uncle Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress's Prithviraj Chavan and Sushil Kumar Shinde did not attend the programme. NCP's Maharashtra chief Sunil Tatkare said three days ago that a special invitation will be sent to Sharad Pawar through Praful Patel for the programme. NCP-SP's state chief Jayant Patil on Saturday said that no such invitation was extended to Pawar. 'I received a call from Shindeji at 4pm today, telling me that he was at his native village Dare in Satara district, supervising a festival organised by the state tourism department in Mahabaleshwar. Therefore, he could not attend the program,' said NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Shinde had deputed state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik to represent him. Pawar took a dig at Shinde, asking him to not depute anyone to represent him. 'This felicitation was of a former Chief Minister. It is ok if he (Shinde) cannot attend. Deputing someone to represent a former CM doesn't look good. I request Shindeji not to depute anyone for such a program in future,' said Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis in his speech said the programme was not political in nature and it would have been good had all attended it. BJP Rajya Sabha and former CM Narayan Rane however left no room for guessing by saying those in foreign country should also have come. Rane's arch-rival and former CM Uddhav Thackeray is currently abroad.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ajit Pawar's NCP to invite Sharad Pawar for programme to felicitate all past CMs
Two years after the split in the party, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will extend an official invitation to veteran politician Sharad Pawar to attend a party function being organised on the occasion of Maharashtra Day on May 1. After the political split, Ajit Pawar took control of the party name and poll symbol, while Sharad Pawar, who is now in the opposition, is heading Nationalist Congress Party (SP). 'We will be felicitating all the previous chief ministers of Maharashtra on May 3. We have spoken to Prithviraj Chavan (of Congress). We have been told that Uddhav Thackeray is abroad, but we will extend an invitation to him as well. Our executive president Praful Patel will personally meet Sharad Pawar saheb to extend the invitation,' said NCP state president and Lok Sabha MP, Sunil Tatkare. The NCP is organising 'Gauravshali Maharashtra' festival from May 1 to 4 to mark the 65 years of Maharashtra formation. Among the five pavilions to be built to mark this event, one will be dedicated to all chief ministers of the state, recognising their contribution in last 65 years. Tatkare said that after the formation of Maharashtra on May 1, 1960, various events and cultural programmes took place for five consecutive days. 'We will be repeating it by holding celebrations from May 1 to 4,' he said. When asked about Sharad Pawar, Tatkare said his contribution to the state and country can never be neglected. 'He is a national leader and four-time chief minister of Maharashtra. How can his contribution be neglected? We will extend invitation and he will take a final call,' said Tatkare. According to sources within the NCP-SP, Sharad Pawar has received no such invitation from the NCP. 'This is not a government programme. This is a party function. It is unlikely that after what has happened between Pawars, he will share NCP's stage,' said a senior leader from the NCP-SP. Both Ajit and Sharad Pawar have been seen together in the past two years only in various official meetings and family functions. Both have categorically kept political stands aside and refrained from making any comments, post assembly polls.
