BJP's Chandrakant Patil edged out by Ajit in fierce battle for Pune

MUMBAI: A day after Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis said BJP as eldest brother in the 3-party alliance in the state would have to make sacrifices, the party's leader and MLA from Pune Chandrakant Patil was replaced as guardian minister for Pune district by Dy CM Ajit Pawar.

Patil had, as guardian minister for Pune, sanctioned projects worth Rs 400 crore from the District Planning and Development Committee budget in May, just before Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde-Fadnavis government. After Ajit joined government, he refused to clear finance for any of the projects. Patil had in August finally complained to CM Eknath Shinde in writing, asking for the funds to be released.

BJP's Patil, who is higher and technical education minister, has had a running feud with Ajit Pawar ever since the latter joined the government in July and was given the finance portfolio. For NCP, the district is its bastion, and Ajit Pawar, after becoming deputy CM, lost no time in holding meetings and in issuing directives to state officials on development works. Patil was not involved in any of the meetings, and while he had called the meeting for planning the Ganpati celebrations, it was Ajit who dominated it and even addressed the press conference thereafter, leaving BJP workers miffed.

Political observer Ravikiran Deshmukh in a post on X stated, "Finally Ajit Pawar had his way forcing BJP to make changes in the guardianship of nine districts and three from Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena. His seven men will get responsibility for three politically crucial districts -- Pune, Kolhapur and Beed."