Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has been given the role of guardian minister for both Pune and Beed districts, according to the Maharashtra government’s General Administration Department (GAD), which released an official circular to formalise the decision on Tuesday.
“I accept this responsibility with a heavy heart but a firm resolve. The values of duty and commitment to the people that Ajit Dada taught me will be my guiding light as I serve these districts,” Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar stated after the official announcement.
However, sources said that the decision to give the additional charge to Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar is part of a damage control exercise by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has “temporarily” kept the strategic finance portfolio with him, which used to be with the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
According to Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Praful Patel, who is known to be close to the BJP, “Ajit Pawar used to hold the finance portfolio. We had a discussion about it with Chief Minister Fadnavis, who said that Sunetra Pawar has been newly appointed to the Maharashtra government. It will take some time for her to understand the rest of the process”.
“The Chief Minister said that the Maharashtra state budget will be presented in a few days. Presenting the budget is not just a matter of talking. It has to be discussed thoroughly. and questions have to be answered. The process of preparing the budget is also a long one. Ajit Pawar had a lot of experience with the finance portfolio, and so he never faced any problem. But since the state budget day is very near, Sunetra Pawar, who is new to the cabinet, should not end up facing any technical difficulties while handling a big responsibility like the budget. Therefore, the Chief Minister will be handling the finance portfolio for some time, and he has taken up this responsibility,” Praful Patel said.
Responding to allegations that Sunetra Pawar was hastily appointed, Praful Patel said, “Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif and other senior leaders took this decision together. We had met Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar as well. The public and workers felt that a person from the Pawar family should take up this responsibility, and accordingly, this decision was taken”.
As Guardian Minister for Pune and Beed, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar will have direct oversight of regions that were central to Ajit Pawar’s political identity and legacy. As the Pawar family’s home turf, Pune was the engine of Ajit Pawar’s influence, and Sunetra Pawar’s role here would be to oversee major infrastructure projects that he had initiated, sources said.
Before Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, it was her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who was the Guardian Minister of Pune and Beed districts between 2004 and 2014. The position of Guardian Minister is not just administrative but also deeply political. During this time, Ajit Pawar expanded the NCP’s base throughout the district. The Guardian Minister’s position allows a leader to remain in direct contact with the public and strengthen their influence by getting local leaders to carry out their work. The appointment of Sunetra Pawar in districts like Pune and Beed is seen as a major effort to maintain the Pawar family’s political dominance.
The position of Guardian Minister is a very special one in Maharashtra’s administrative system. Typically, a minister in the state cabinet is appointed the “guardian” of his or her own district or another district. If a district lacks a representative in the cabinet, this responsibility is assigned to an outside minister. A minister may also be in charge of more than one district. This position serves as a strong link between district development and administration. The Guardian Minister is the person responsible for ensuring the strict implementation of government schemes at the district level.
Also, the Guardian Minister is legally the ex-officio chairperson of the District Planning Committee (DPC). According to the Constitution of India, the existence of a DPC is mandatory in every district. This committee is always headed by the Guardian Minister. Its primary function is to coordinate between the panchayats and municipalities. Whether it’s water distribution or infrastructure development, every major decision requires the Guardian Minister’s approval. Plans for the proper use of natural resources and environmental protection are also passed through the DPC.
The Guardian Minister has extensive powers regarding the district budget and oversees the combined budget of all local bodies in the district. The Guardian Minister is responsible for preparing and passing a common draft budget for the district’s development. The Guardian Minister reviews budget expenditure every three months and oversees the proper use of funds received from the central and state governments, besides directly deciding how much money will be spent in which area of the district.
In a metropolis like Pune, the role of the Guardian Minister is even more significant. Here, the Guardian Minister chairs the canal committee meeting, which decides the proportion of dam water allocated for drinking, agriculture, and industry. The Guardian Minister also plays a key role in solving the city’s waste management problems and acquiring land for mega-projects like highways and airports, besides overseeing arrangements for major events like the Ashadhi Ekadashi Palkhi procession and the Ganesh Utsav.