Thu Dec 05 14:08:17 UTC 2024: ## Ajit Pawar’s Delhi Trip Yields No Meeting with Amit Shah; Portfolio Disputes Delay Cabinet Formation
**Mumbai, October 26:** Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and newly sworn-in Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s attempt to secure key ministerial portfolios through a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi proved unsuccessful. Pawar spent two days in a five-star hotel awaiting a meeting, but Shah did not meet him. A frustrated Pawar returned to Mumbai on Tuesday morning.
Pawar’s Delhi visit followed disagreements within the newly formed Maharashtra government over cabinet positions. Tensions arose after Acting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde allegedly exerted pressure regarding portfolio allocation, with Pawar’s faction demanding key ministries like Home, Finance, and Agriculture. Before his departure, Pawar held discussions with NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare to strategize their approach to the portfolio allocation.
While Pawar initially claimed his Delhi trip was for personal reasons, sources suggest he sought a meeting with Shah to negotiate crucial ministerial positions. The expected meeting between Shah and Pawar, which could have addressed the ongoing portfolio disputes, never materialized.
The delay in finalizing ministerial appointments underscores the internal power struggle within the ruling alliance. The swearing-in ceremony for the new Maharashtra government, featuring Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde as Deputy Chief Ministers, took place on Thursday in Mumbai. It’s anticipated that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers will return to Delhi to meet Shah and finalize the cabinet portfolios.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray congratulated Fadnavis on his appointment and expressed hope that the government would utilize its majority effectively, promising to support positive initiatives while criticizing any shortcomings.
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