Mumbai, July 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) State President, Sunil Tatkare, has strongly dismissed speculations that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withhold the crucial finance portfolio from the NCP.
The political corridors of Maharashtra have been buzzing with rumours following a recent meeting in Delhi between Dy CM Shinde and HM Shah.
Speculation arose that the Deputy Chief Minister's visit was aimed at blocking the NCP's claim to the finance ministry, especially after NCP leader Jayant Patil met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the portfolio.
When questioned about these rumours, Tatkare defended Shinde, emphasising his leadership style and respect for alliance partners.
"Eknath Shinde is a seasoned leader who has successfully served as the Chief Minister in the past and is currently our Deputy Chief Minister. I do not believe he would ever interfere to prevent an ally from getting a specific portfolio. In my three years of working together, I have never felt that he acts in a way to restrict what allies receive," he remarked.
Tatkare added that Shinde shares highly cordial relations with the NCP and that his political steps have historically been marked by collaborative success.
Despite dismissing the rumours of internal rift, Tatkare reaffirmed that the NCP remains firm on its demand for the finance portfolio.
He revealed that an NCP delegation, led by Sunetra Pawar, is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shortly to formally present their demand and address other pending alliance matters.
Tatkare's statement is important especially when for the NCP leadership, getting back the finance department is an issue of political survival and constituency development.
A senior party functionary said,"NCP MLAs are highly anxious. With local elections and state-level political shifts on the horizon, not having an NCP leader heading the Finance Ministry means they lack direct control over budget allocations for their respective constituencies."
Rumours have circulated that the BJP is hesitant to return the portfolio due to the state's tight financial health and might offer heavy-weight alternatives like Rural Development or Energy instead.
However, NCP insiders indicate that the party cadres are strongly resisting any compromise, viewing the finance portfolio as the ultimate symbol of their authority in the coalition.
Earlier, Jay Pawar — the younger son of the late Ajit Pawar and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar — publicly addressed the growing anxiety within the party rank-and-file regarding the delayed return of the Finance and Planning portfolio.
He made a major revelation regarding high-level discussions held between the Pawar family and Devendra Fadnavis.
Jay Pawar clarified that Fadnavis took temporary control of the department strictly due to administrative necessity following Ajit Pawar's sudden passing in January 2026, which occurred right before the crucial state budget was scheduled to be presented.
Source: IANS
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