Mumbai: As the dispute over the Guardian Minister posts of Raigad and Nashik reaches its peak, the Maharashtra General Administration Department has announced the list of ministers who will hoist the national flag on Independence Day in each district.
According to the list, NCP leader Aditi Tatkare will hoist the flag at the Raigad District Collector’s office, while BJP leader Girish Mahajan will do so in Nashik. This comes despite ongoing tensions within the Mahayuti alliance over these two key posts. In Raigad, a tussle continues between Tatkare and Shiv Sena’s Bharat Gogawale, while in Nashik, the dispute is between Mahajan and Shiv Sena’s Dada Bhuse.
Earlier this year, on January 18, the list of Guardian Ministers for all districts in the state was announced. However, the very next day, the appointments of Guardian Ministers for Raigad and Nashik were abruptly cancelled, and the positions were kept in abeyance following internal disagreements in the Mahayuti. Originally, Tatkare was appointed for Raigad and Mahajan for Nashik.
Shiv Sena MLAs have been pressing for Bharat Gogawale to be appointed as Raigad’s Guardian Minister, while the NCP has been strongly backing Tatkare for the post. Last week, Gogawale made a conciliatory statement, saying, “If the issue of Raigad’s Guardian Ministership is resolved, good; if not, I will accept whatever decision is taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.” This softer tone has sparked speculation in political circles that a compromise may have been reached during CM Shinde’s recent visit to Delhi.
