Ajit Pawar Attends Maharashtra Winter Session amid Unresolved Portfolio Allocation; Internal Dissent Brews, Bhujbal Hints at Breaking Away

NCP Chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur on Wednesday to attend the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature. This marks his first appearance in the assembly since the formation of the Mahayuti government.

While the government secured a clear mandate in the assembly elections, the process of government formation took 12 days. In addition, significant issues remain unresolved, including the allocation of portfolios to the 39 elected ministers. According to sources, this delay has fueled internal dissent and sparked speculation within the ruling coalition.

Sources indicate that Ajit Pawar recently met with senior BJP leaders in Delhi, bypassing both Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. According to reports, Pawar is lobbying for key portfolios, particularly Finance and Women & Child Welfare.

On December 15, Governor P.C. Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to 39 new ministers in Fadnavis' cabinet, just a day before the winter session commenced. The ceremony saw the induction of 16 new faces while 10 ministers were dropped from the cabinet. The suspense surrounding portfolio allocation continues to linger as the winter session gets underway.

Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has publicly criticized the party leadership, specifically targeting Ajit Pawar’s functioning within the party. Bhujbal, who was excluded from the new cabinet despite his seniority, has hinted at exploring an independent political path.

"Where there is no peace, there is no reason to stay," Bhujbal said, expressing his dissatisfaction with his exclusion. He further claimed that Chief Minister Fadnavis had supported his inclusion in the cabinet, suggesting that political maneuvering within the NCP may have played a role in his sidelining.

Bhujbal’s exclusion has sparked sympathy within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camp. Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed his regret over Bhujbal's situation. “I feel sad for Bhujbal. He stays in touch with me frequently,” Thackeray said. Speculation is now growing that Bhujbal may defect to Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), particularly after the NCP’s poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.​