Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 17: The Maharashtra government has resolved the long-pending issue over the appointment of guardian ministers for Raigad and Nashik districts, appointing Shiv Sena leader and state minister Bharat Gogawale as Raigad guardian minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan as Nashik guardian minister.

Gogawale, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena, had been seeking the Raigad guardian minister's post. His appointment was formally announced along with Mahajan's appointment for Nashik.

The issue had remained unresolved in the Mahayuti government since the 2024 Assembly elections. In Raigad, Shiv Sena had sought the post for Gogawale, while the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party had staked a claim through Aditi Tatkare.

A similar tussle had emerged over Nashik, with both the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP seeking the guardian minister's position.

The Mahayuti government has now settled the dispute by allocating the Raigad guardian minister's post to the Shiv Sena and the Nashik post to the BJP.

Gogawale's appointment to Raigad fulfils his long-standing desire to oversee the district as its guardian minister, while Mahajan will take charge of Nashik.

The appointments are expected to bring an end to the uncertainty over the two key district-level positions and allow the respective ministers to oversee development and administrative coordination in the districts.