The Mahayuti might have had a straightforward victory within the Maharashtra elections, proving predictions of a troublesome contest incorrect. Nevertheless, the interval since has been marked by intense negotiations as all of the three events, buoyed by their robust efficiency – the BJP 132, Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 41 seats – have been jostling for key portfolios.
The swearing-in on Thursday itself remained a touch-and-go until virtually the ultimate hours as Sena chief Eknath Shinde held out reportedly for the Dwelling Ministry, in addition to Deputy Chief Minister put up. He lastly fell in keeping with the BJP’s plans reportedly after he was instructed to select between Dwelling and City Growth.
Ajit Pawar, who has scored some factors with the BJP by projecting himself as a completely amenable ally, has his personal calls for as effectively, with Housing and Finance – held by him within the earlier Mahayuti authorities – high of his listing.
A take a look at the six most-sought-after departments in Maharashtra, and why they’re so coveted:
Dwelling
Throughout governments, in states and on the Centre, this stays the one division each chief desires management of – and the one which chief ministers virtually by no means half with. The explanations are apparent: Dwelling controls the police, giving the minister involved beneficial and early perception into each improvement of import beneath their space. In occasions of political instability, the lengthy arm of the legislation can go a great distance in steadying or rocking the boat – and, within the Mahayuti’s case, is usually a manner of protecting allies in examine.
Plus, it’s to Dwelling that the majority investigative businesses report, an added attraction.
A great job on the legislation and order entrance can go a great distance in making a state engaging for companies and funding.
Within the earlier Mahayuti authorities, when the BJP let Shinde have the CM put up regardless of having extra seats, it had stored Dwelling for itself. The portfolio was beneath then Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis – although his time period was a combined bag for him personally because the flaring up of the Maratha quota stir was immediately blamed on police motion.
Finance
It is likely one of the most wanted departments following Dwelling. The minister in-charge not solely controls the discharge of funds for initiatives and to particular person constituencies, but in addition all state authorities selections can proceed solely after the Finance’s approval.
As well as, the Finance Minister is the one Cupboard member aside from the CM who can summon a gathering of officers from different departments with out looking for approval of the minister involved.
Launch of funds is at all times a contentious situation in alliance governments, and therefore the jostling for keys to the treasury. As each minister desires the fund circulation to his or her division working easily, they’re cautious about not antagonising the Finance Minister.
After he joined the earlier Mahayuti authorities in mid-2023, Ajit Pawar obtained the Finance portfolio, after it was given up by Fadnavis – underlining the significance of successful Ajit to their facet for the BJP. Ajit may get Finance once more this time.
City Growth
The division is answerable for a lot of the improvement and infrastructure initiatives in city components of the state, significantly municipal companies. Virtually all city native our bodies in Maharashtra – together with the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) – fall beneath the City Growth Division. The Mumbai Metropolitan Area Growth Authority and Metropolis and Industrial Growth Company additionally fall inside its purview.
Within the monetary yr 2023-24, Rs 31,082 crore or 5.66% of the full state expenditure was for the division.
Other than making ready and finalising improvement plans of cities, the City Growth Division additionally controls allocating plots for initiatives and mapping the boundaries of city areas.
A celebration which caters largely to an city voter base – just like the Shiv Sena – normally insists on this division. With elections to most municipal companies due in Maharashtra, together with the BMC, no celebration will surrender an opportunity to regulate it.
Within the earlier Mahayuti authorities, Shinde was the City Growth Minister, and is predicted to get the division once more.
Income
The division offers with land, the method of its shopping for and promoting, finalising insurance policies for mineral extraction and growing avenues for income era by way of progressive means. From land data to sand extraction data, from stamp responsibility assortment to tax assortment, the division oversees all.
The celebration in-charge of the division can decide land use, maintain probably the most energy over the forms, significantly district collectors, and have a say in the actual property market as it could possibly decide the tax construction.
Within the earlier Mahayuti authorities, the BJP had stored the Income Division. This time, there’s a tussle over who will get it.
Housing
The Maharashtra Housing Division is at present supervising a few of the greatest actual property initiatives within the nation, together with the Dharavi Redevelopment Mission. Within the close to future, Mumbai is predicted to see extra big-ticket redevelopment initiatives reminiscent of Motilal Nagar in Goregaon, Abhyuday Nagar in Central Mumbai, Kamathipura Redevelopment Mission and others.
Given the funding of lakhs of crore in these initiatives, the Ministry is profitable for any celebration.
Within the earlier Mahayuti authorities, the BJP stored Housing, however this time is dealing with pushback from allies over it.
Irrigation
With a rise of 13% within the Irrigation Ministry’s finances for 2024-25, every celebration is eyeing this division. Gainful use of the finances for initiatives can assist any celebration construct its base amongst farmers, who comprise an influential vote financial institution within the state.
The division has been embroiled in a sequence of allegations over the previous decade over Revised Administrative Approvals to irrigation initiatives, resulting in political storms within the state.
Among the many new initiatives on the playing cards is the Maharashtra Resilience Growth Mission, beneath which greater than 100 irrigation initiatives are set to bear completion and repairs; the bold Marathwada Water Grid Mission, which entails connecting a minimum of 11 irrigation initiatives within the water-scarce area; and the Nalganga-Wainganga river linking venture, estimated to be one of many greatest within the nation with an outlay of Rs 87,000 crore, and which holds the potential of adjusting the water state of affairs of Vidarbha.
Within the earlier authorities, the BJP held the Irrigation Division, and is predicted to retain it. Within the current Meeting polls, the celebration made beneficial properties in each Marathwada and Vidarbha, which aren’t thought-about its normal searching grounds.
