In a chaotic meeting on Thursday afternoon, the Maharashtra cabinet hurriedly approved nearly 50 proposals without any discussion, leaving ministers with little to no time to review the documents. Sources revealed that the government passed the proposals at an unusually fast pace, clearing them before they could even be fully read out by secretaries. Ministers expressed concern that, despite the rush for subsequent engagements, they should have been allowed to examine the proposals.
Abrupt Exits of Key Ministers
This was the fourth cabinet meeting in the past three weeks, and it saw the sudden exit of Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, along with Sports Minister Sanjay Bansode. Both left to attend a farmers' rally in Ahmadpur, Latur. Pawar, who has been vocal about fiscal matters, heads the finance department, which has repeatedly raised concerns over the state's finances. Bansode, who also hails from Latur, accompanied him to the rally.
Tensions in Mahayuti Alliance
The meeting took place at a time when tensions within the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP—seemed to be escalating. With the Maharashtra Assembly elections on the horizon and the Model Code of Conduct expected soon, sources indicated that the rift within the alliance was becoming more visible. Cabinet insiders noted that key leaders hardly interacted or engaged in meaningful discussions during the session, hinting at growing friction.
Concerns Over Financial Strain
Despite warnings from the finance department about the state's increasing fiscal deficit, the cabinet has pushed ahead with approving a significant number of proposals. Over the past month, the government has made around 165 decisions, many of which involve considerable financial commitments. An IAS officer present at the meetings pointed out that the finance department had repeatedly flagged the pressure these schemes were putting on the state’s finances, yet the cabinet has often chosen to override these concerns. Adding to the complexity, ministers noted that the official meeting agenda, which typically lists a small number of proposals, often excludes several others that are brought forward during the session, leaving them unclear about the total number of approvals made.
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