After Shinde, Fadnavis now encroaching on Ajit Pawar’s ministry: Rohit Pawar 

NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar said by appointing a Chief Economic Advisor, all the policy-related and administrative decisions will fall under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister via the CEA.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

NCP SP leader Rohit Pawar criticised the appointment of a Chief Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, calling it an encroachment on the finance department led by Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Ajit Pawar. 

Former bureaucrat Praveen Pardeshi was recently appointed as Chief Economic Advisor who will work on the 2047 vision roadmap. His job role will include preparing reports on State finances, collaborating with NITI Aayog, and pushing initiatives for green energy. 

Rohit Pawar accused Mr. Fadnavis of interfering in Ajit Pawar’s finance ministry. He pointed out that by appointing the CEA, all the policy-related and administrative decisions will fall under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister via the CEA.  

Mr. Pawar also raised Mr. Fadnavis’ “interference” in DCM Eknath Shinde’s department. “After reviewing the decisions taken in the last two and a half years, he first infiltrated Eknath Shinde’s departments and now it is Ajit Pawar’s turn,” he said. 

Mr. Pawar called Mr. Fadnavis “authoritarian” who wants to control other ministries. “Keeping every ministry under his direct or indirect control and appointing a Chief Economic Advisor reflects the same tendency. In a democracy, decentralization of power and teamwork have always given better results. So, if Chief Minister changes his working style, it will benefit Maharashtra,” he posted on X. 

As for the question of allies, in the BJP’s dictionary, allies only mean ‘temporary convenience’, so the BJP’s modus operandi is to end even temporary convenience as soon as the need is over. Although everyone knows this BJP diplomacy from the outside, it is unfortunate for the allies as they do not realize it until they are hunted. “For them [BJP] allies mean temporary convenience. When the purpose is served, allies are of no use. It is unfortunate that everyone can see this, except their allies”.