With ministers from Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP, competition and disputes seem inevitable
Reportedly the newly formed maharashtra government completed its cabinet portfolio allocation on Saturday. However, while celebrations followed the announcement, the challenges are far from over. One of the pressing issues now is the appointment of guardian ministers for various districts, a move that could spark conflict within the Mahayuti. Several districts have multiple ministers, with three to four representatives from different alliance parties. If all these ministers belonged to the same party, the decision over guardian minister appointments would have been simpler. However, with ministers from different parties in the same district, competition and disputes seem inevitable.Perhaps in Nashik, BJP’s Girish Mahajan, Shiv Sena’s Dada Bhuse, and NCP’s Narhari Zirwal and Manikrao Kokate are contenders for the position. Agriculture minister Kokate has staked his claim, stating that the ncp has the majority of MLAs in the district, and thus the guardian minister should come from their party. However, this has set the stage for internal competition.
Moreover the Mahayuti alliance is expected to handle these internal conflicts with care, ensuring they don’t spill into public view. The alliance’s strategy of patience and coordination has already been evident in the recent cabinet expansion. The same “slow and steady" approach is likely to guide their decision. By prioritising strategic consensus, the alliance aims to maintain its unity and focus on governance.