Ajit Pawar’s absence at key guv events raises eyebrows | Mumbai News

NCP president and deputy CM Ajit Pawar is at the receiving end for skipping key events of newly appointed governor Acharya Devvrat. He had skipped major events during MVA’s tenure, too, on the grounds that he had engagements in his hometown, Baramati. For all govt functions, his name was printed on the invitation card along with those of the CM and other cabinet members.After Devvrat was given additional charge of Maharashtra, he unexpectedly decided to reach Mumbai by train, instead of a state govt aircraft. At Mumbai Central station, he was given a rousing welcome by CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde, along with chief secretary Rajesh Kumar and most senior bureaucrats. The only person who was conspicuous by his absence was Ajit Pawar. It was followed by a ceremonial welcome at Raj Bhavan, where Devvrat was given the guard of honour in the presence of Fadnavis and Shinde. The next day was the swearing-in. Bombay HC Chief Justice Chandrashekhar administered the oath of office to Devvrat. At this event, too, Ajit Pawar was not seen; it became a subject of discussion at Raj Bhavan.

A former chief secretary said it was unfortunate that Ajit Pawar skipped the event. Certainly, being a responsible cabinet member, he must have informed the CM and the secretary to the governor. Top bureaucrats felt that there cannot be a more important function than the swearing-in of the governor, the constitutional head of the state. Firefighting modeWhen the entire state is facing a series of problems, Fadnavis’s platter is filled with intra-party disputes, raised by none other than senior leaders of Mahayuti. More shocking is the fact that it is taking long to resolve them and by the time he takes a decision, another more serious dispute lands on his plate. It began when a high-profile NCP (SP) leader released a video showing a cabinet member counting notes in his hotel room. It was followed by a senior cabinet member watching rummy on phone. While no action was taken in the first case, in the second, Ajit Pawar relieved him from the agriculture portfolio following mounting pressure. The last episode was more shocking—a BJP legislator was seen abusing senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil. The matter reached NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who knocked on the doors of Fadnavis. The CM told the BJP legislator that such language was unacceptable in the state nurtured by Yashwantrao Chavan. A top politician said Fadnavis will have to be more ruthless and bring in discipline.