Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 6: Amid growing political buzz in Maharashtra, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former MLC Amol Mitkari has urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to return the Finance and Planning portfolios to the NCP, saying the move would honour the understanding reached within the ruling Mahayuti alliance and enable Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to take charge of the departments.
The Finance and Planning portfolio was earlier held by former Deputy Chief Minister and NCP national president Ajit Pawar, who was also in charge of the State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Aukaf Ministries until his death in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28.
After Sunetra Pawar assumed office as Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allocated the State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Aukaf Ministries to her, while retaining the Finance and Planning portfolios, citing the preparation of the 2026-27 State Budget.
Raising the issue, Mitkari said that when the Mahayuti government was formed, Fadnavis had entrusted the Finance portfolio to Ajit Pawar, who handled it effectively. He claimed the Chief Minister had assured the NCP that the portfolio would be returned to the party after the presentation of the State Budget.
"After the death of Ajit Dada, Fadnavis assured that the Finance portfolio would be returned to the NCP after the budget so that Sunetra Tai could head it. The claim over that portfolio rightfully belongs to the NCP. Lakhs of party workers across the state are eagerly awaiting the fulfilment of that promise," Mitkari said.
He said NCP workers were disappointed over the delay in handing back the portfolio and stressed that every constituent of the Mahayuti alliance deserved equal respect.
"The pride of every constituent party in the Mahayuti must be upheld. The NCP has consistently worked responsibly to strengthen the alliance. Honouring the commitment is not merely a political issue but one of trust, transparency and mutual respect," he said.
Appealing directly to the Chief Minister, Mitkari urged Fadnavis to hand over the Finance portfolio to the NCP, saying it would reinforce trust within the Mahayuti alliance and remove confusion among party workers.
He also called upon NCP legislators to convey the sentiments of party workers to the Chief Minister in the interest of protecting the party's dignity.
"The workers' only expectation is that the promise made to the NCP should be honoured," Mitkari said.