Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on dais, ‘senior’ Ajit Pawar laments,’I could have united NCP if given CM post’ | Mumbai News – Times of India

Ajit Pawar reflected on his political career, highlighting missed chances for the CM post. He served multiple terms as Deputy CM.

Sixty-five-year-old Ajit Pawar himself has disclosed that despite being senior to CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in politics, he still missed the bus for the CM’s post. He revealed his career graph at a well-attended event in Thane in the presence of governor C P Radhakrishnan, Shinde and Fadnavis. He said he was sworn in as the deputy CM on multiple occasions, but could not become the CM.
Ajit Pawar was first elected to the assembly in 1991 from Baramati.He also served as a Lok Sabha MP. Fadnavis was first elected to the assembly in 1999 and Shinde in 2004; both became CM. Fadnavis was sworn in as CM on Oct 31, 2014, with his govt supported by Sharad Pawar-led undivided NCP. Shinde was appointed as CM on June 30, 2022, after many Shiv Sena legislators deserted Uddhav Thackeray and joined him.
Ajit Pawar observed that had Fadnavis given him the offer of the CM’s post, he would have ensured that the entire NCP had joined him. Immediately after the 2019 assembly polls, when no party secured a clear majority, Ajit Pawar quietly joined hands with Fadnavis and formed govt in the wee hours. Then, Fadnavis was sworn in as the CM and Ajit Pawar as the deputy CM. That govt lasted fewer than 80 hours as Ajit Pawar was unable to secure the support of all NCP legislators; of the 44 NCP legislators, only four extended their support to him. It appears that Ajit Pawar will have to wait longer for the top political post.
Rot in BMC
For the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), it was a prized catch when it nabbed a designated officer of BMC’s K-East ward. The BMC officer had demanded Rs 2 crore from a builder to regularise a four-storey structure in Andheri. As per an understanding between the officer and the builder, the first instalment was to be for Rs 75 lakh. The builder then approached the ACB. While the BMC officer is at large, two middlemen have been arrested accepting the bribe amount.
Significantly, on Nov 6, 2022, an officer of the same rank and from the same ward was arrested by the ACB for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50 lakh for regularising an illegal structure.
No doubt, the law will take its own course but responsibility must be fixed on superior officers for their lack of supervision and dereliction of duty. Further, the BMC administration led by veteran bureaucrat Bhushan Gagrani must ensure that the case is fast-tracked so that it is disposed of in a time-bound period.
In 1997, when Manohar Joshi was the CM, the urban development department had issued a stringent circular stating that the ward officer and senior police inspector would be held responsible for illegal and unauthorised constructions. BMC does not have a record to show action taken against erring officers.