Who Will Take Over as Maharashtra’s Finance Minister After Ajit Pawar? Government Faces Major Challenge

Pune/Mumbai: The sudden demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has created not just a political but also a significant administrative challenge for the state government. With the budget session approaching, his absence is being acutely felt across all levels of governance.

Ajit Pawar was widely respected for his administrative experience and strong command over the bureaucracy. Traditionally, the departments under the Deputy Chief Minister now temporarily fall under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. According to sources, a formal notification regarding the redistribution of responsibilities is expected after the three-day state mourning period.

Budget Session Starting 23 February

The state budget session is scheduled to begin on 23 February, with the budget set to be presented in the first week of March. Managing the Finance Department during this critical period is considered a formidable challenge for the government. State Minister for Finance Ashish Jaiswal remarked, “Filling Ajit Pawar’s shoes is impossible, but under the current circumstances, Chief Minister Fadnavis is the most capable leader to handle the budget.”

Jaiswal also highlighted that crucial departments like Finance and Agriculture were traditionally managed by the NCP. With the Maha-Alliance needing coordination among coalition partners, consultations must precede budget finalization. District Planning Committees (DPCs) were expected to finalize expenditure proposals starting 6 February, but recent developments have caused delays.

Ajit Pawar’s Legacy in Finance

Recalling Ajit Pawar’s work style, Jaiswal said, “Discipline was his hallmark. Meetings always began on time, and his decisions were clear—yes meant yes, no meant no. He was never indecisive.” This year, Ajit Pawar was set to present his 12th state budget. Had he done so, he would have become the second-most prolific finance minister in Maharashtra’s history, behind only Sheshrao Wankhede, who presented 13 budgets. Currently, with 11 budgets, Ajit Pawar was already ahead of other notable ministers like Jayanta Patil and Sushilkumar Shinde.

Ajit Pawar’s absence leaves a vacuum that will test the government’s administrative resilience, particularly as it navigates one of the most important financial sessions of the year.