Mumbai: A little over 1.5 years after a tussle broke out over the guardian ministership of Nashik and Raigad, it was resolved on Monday as the state govt appointed BJP’s Girish Mahajan as guardian minister for Nashik and Shiv Sena’s Bharat Gogawale for Raigad. Political observers said the appointments are a setback for NCP as it had staked a claim for the posts — for Chhagan Bhujbal in Nashik and Aditi Tatkare in Raigad.The Tatkare family had made it a prestige issue but has been snubbed, an observer said. Mahajan’s appointment is important as it comes ahead of the Kumbh Mela in Nashik later this year. As guardian minister, Mahajan will have control over all Kumbh-related development and planning works for which the state govt has planned a spend of over Rs 22,000 crore. Sena minister Dada Bhuse too was lobbying for the Nashik post but he was ignored. However, the Sena has been adjusted in Raigad while the NCP has not got the post in both the key districts.Guardian ministers control the district planning and development council (DPDC) funds which are used for various development and beautification projects. They also preside over events like Independence Day and Republic Day. In Jan 2025, a day after the Mahayuti govt appointed guardian ministers for all 36 districts, it had stayed the appointments of those named for Nashik and Raigad after a tussle broke out between the Shiv Sena and NCP over Raigad and between the BJP and NCP over Nashik.State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said the issue of guardian ministership for Raigad had been resolved two months ago by the Mahayuti parties. “Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar sat together and came to a consensus. I congratulate Bharat Gogawale. Everyone should now work together for the progress of the district,” Tatkare said.When asked about the unhappiness of local NCP workers on the party losing the post in Raigad, he said, “I have said this issue has been resolved and I have supported this decision. There is no other opinion among party workers. We all have to work as an alliance. We are part of the NDA.”In 2025, the state govt had appointed Girish Mahajan as head of the ministerial committee for the Kumbh Mela. Bhuse, who was eyeing the guardian minister’s post, was made a member along with Bhujbal and other ministers.“I was heading the Kumbh Mela preparations but now I’m guardian minister, so the issue is closed. I will soon hold a meeting as guardian minister,” Mahajan said.
