Funds Row Deepens Rift Between Ajit Pawar And Eknath Shinde As Maharashtra Deputy CMs Skip Key Events News24 –

 
All does not seem well within the Mahayuti in Maharashtra. It is being witnessed that the two deputy chief ministers-Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have started snubbing each other at social and government events. 

Ajit Pawar skipped Mahabaleshwar Mahotsav

According to an NDTV report, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar chose to skip the recently concluded Mahabaleshwar Mahotsav, organised by the Tourism Department. The event was held under the supervision of Tourism Minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai. Department’s Minister of State (Mos) Indranil Nayak, also NCP leader, did not attend the event. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknth Shinde were present.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was absent from ‘Gauravshali Mahotsav’

Similarly, NCP had organised ‘Gauravshali Mahotsav’ to felicitate all the previous chief ministers of the state. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was not present, signaling that the two deputy CMs may not be on good terms.  

Sanjay Shirsat raised the matter with CM, Shinde

Shiv Sena is not happy after Ajit Pawar diverted funds of Rs 413 crore from the social justice department without any prior consent. Sanjay Shirsat, who held the social justice department, raised the matter with the chief minister and Eknath Shinde. 

‘Funds of the Social Justice Department should not be cut’

While talking to the media, Sanjay Shirat said, Ladli Behna Yojana has been very important for us, and because of that, we have come to power. So this scheme should never be stopped. Funds should be released for that (by the Maharashtra government)… But the funds of the Social Justice Department should not be cut, and this is the rule… This is what I have told Ajit Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. After this, if the funds are cut, I will have problems working, this is what I have to say.”

#WATCH | Mumbai | On Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s statement, Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat says, “Ladli Behna Yojana has been very important for us, because of that we have come to power. So this scheme should never be stopped. Funds should be released for that (by the… pic.twitter.com/KU591yNDOS

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2025