Maharashtra govt stays appointment of guardian ministers for Nashik, Raigad

Cracks have started showing in the Mahayuti government as a day after announcing district guardian ministers it issued an order staying the appointments for Nashik and Raigad districts reported news agency PTIThe general administration department issued an order to this effect on SundayThe Maharastra government announced the appointment of guardian ministers for 36 districts on Saturday with NCPs Aditi Tatkare getting Raigad and BJP leader Girish Mahajan given the responsibility of NashikThe appointment of guardian ministers was awaited after the formation of the new BJPNCPShiv Sena government last monthMaharastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is in Davos for the World Economic Forum to attract investments in the state had to intervene and the general administration department which is under him issued an order to stay the appointments for the two districts until further ordersDistrict guardian ministers are responsible for distributing funds for various developmental works in their areas According to political observers such control over fund distribution is also used to corner the political opponents in districts reported PTIIn Raigad where the new international airport is coming up along with a large number of residential buildings the district guardian ministership given to Tatkare has irked Shiv Sena leader and state Minister Bharat Gogawale who is also from the coastal district reported PTIGogawale had said in the past that he was keen to be the guardian minister of RaigadSimilarly Shiv Sena leader and Minister Dada Bhuse from Nashik was keen on becoming the guardian minister of his home district The post however went to Mahajan a close confidant of CM FadnavisMinisters in Maharashtra are given responsibility for one or more districts The announcement was awaited after the formation of the new BJPNCPShiv Sena government last month The state has 36 districtsAs per the list released on Saturday Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who also handles the Home department would be the guardian minister of the Naxalaffected Gadchiroli district while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been allotted Beed district in addition to Pune Pawars home districtShiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde another deputy CM would be the guardian minister of Mumbai city and Thane district which is his strongholdState BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule was named guardian minister of Nagpur and AmravatiAshish Shelar was named guardian minister of Mumbai Suburbs while Mangal Prabhat Lodha would be coguardian minister of the district Both Shelar and Lodha are BJP leaders from MumbaiWith inputs from PTI