Chandrakant Patil, Ajit Pawar in race for District Guardian Minister’s post
Pune: Workers from the NCP (AP) and the BJP are betting over the District Guardian Minister’s post. Many MLAs are lobbying to secure a berth in the State Cabinet.
Banners have been raised in the city proclaiming Ajit Pawar as the Chief Minister of the State. Workers are insisting that he should be named the next CM. On the other hand, discussions are on whether Pawar would continue to serve as the District Guardian Minister. In the backdrop of impending civic and local self-government elections in the district, the post is seen as important to hold sway over them.
Ajit Pawar has had the longest tenure as the District Guardian Minister. Chandrakant Patil and Girish Bapat held the post in 2014 and 2022, respectively. The District Guardian Minister also controls the District Planning Committee. Party workers can be appointed as members of the panel. Initially, during the Maha Yuti rule, Chandrakant Patil was the Guardian Minister. But Ajit Pawar replaced him on the latter’s insistence. Pawar has carried out development works as the Guardian Minister.
Ajit Pawar-led NCP (AP) has won nine seats in the district. Therefore, his claim to the post would be retained. However, any last-minute change could happen and Patil may become the Guardian Minister. It is said that the Guardian Minister plays an important role during the civic elections and local self-government bodies’ polls.
