The absence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from a cabinet meeting has led to speculation about potential political unrest, which some have termed a “political illness” that may unsettle the government.
Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar commented, “Ajit Pawar seems to be suffering from political illness… He is apparently upset over the delay in the appointment of district guardian ministers.” Several months after joining the government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a few ministers from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar have yet to be assigned responsibilities as district guardian ministers.
NCP MP Supriya Sule expressed her views, saying, “It has only been three months since the triple-engine government came to power… and I have heard that one faction is upset. I heard that the faction which is upset met Fadnavis and conveyed their resentment to him. In just three months, the honeymoon is not yet over, and already problems have started cropping up. In just three months, such news is surfacing… Who is running the government?”
In the face of mounting concerns about the government’s stability, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde explained Ajit Pawar’s absence from the cabinet meeting as a result of his illness. Shinde, along with Fadnavis, departed for Delhi on Tuesday evening.
NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a part of Ajit Pawar’s faction, clarified that Ajit Pawar was suffering from a throat infection. “Ajit dada had a throat infection, and therefore could not go to Delhi. Today (Tuesday), the cabinet meeting was held, and we received a message that he was not well. If Ajit dada could not make it to the cabinet meeting from his residence, how will he go to Delhi?” he said.
When questioned about whether Ajit Pawar was facing “political illness,” Bhujbal dismissed the notion.
NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare added that Ajit Pawar was indeed unwell due to a throat infection and a slight fever. “He is not in a position to speak and is resting at home,” he noted.