Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar acknowledged on Sunday that not all ministers are pleased with their assigned portfolios following the recent Cabinet reshuffle. Addressing the high number of ministers and limited portfolios, Pawar said, “As the number of ministers is high, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had to give each minister a portfolio. Obviously, some are happy and some are not.”
This statement came a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allocated portfolios to his Cabinet members. Pawar, who retained the Finance and Planning portfolio, assured that work on pending projects would begin soon, news agency PTI reported.
Speaking at a public event in Baramati, where he led a roadshow and attended felicitation programmes, Ajit Pawar remarked that the Maharashtra Cabinet comprises 36 Cabinet ministers and only six ministers of state. He further emphasised that multiple projects had to be temporarily halted due to the model code of conduct enforced during the November 20 assembly elections, the results of which were declared on November 23.
“We had received various letters regarding pending projects. Give us some time; every work will be completed,” Ajit Pawar said, adding that ministers are visiting their constituencies after being assigned their portfolios and will soon begin work on the stalled projects.
Ajit Pawar On Maharashtra Budget Session
Ajit Pawar, who is set to take charge of the Finance Ministry on Monday, highlighted the importance of the upcoming budget session of the Maharashtra legislature, scheduled to commence in Mumbai on 3 March. “I want to take CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde into confidence and prepare the budget,” he noted.
In the portfolios announced, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis retained key departments, including Home, Energy, Law and Judiciary, General Administration, and Information and Publicity. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was allocated Urban Development, Housing, and Public Works (Public Enterprises).
