Patil likely to be Pune District Guardian Min

Pune: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided to appoint Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil as Pune District Guardian Minister. 

On Tuesday, newly elected Lok Sabha MP  Girish Bapat submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade. 

Water Resource Minister Girish Mahajan had expressed his interest in holding the post of  Pune District Guardian Minister. However, the water crisis in Pune city proved to be his downfall, and Fadnavis decided to go with Patil. An order to this effect will be issued soon.  

Patil is a senior member of the BJP and close associate of Fadnavis. Currently, he is handling revenue, relief and rehabilitation, agriculture and public works portfolios in the State Government, in addition to being the District Guardian Minister of  Kolhapur district. 

A senior MLA has confirmed Patil’s appointment. “Because of the upcoming Assembly elections, Fadnavis gave this chance to Patil. He is capable of handing Pune district which is the stronghold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),” the MLA said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

No to Mahajan 
Last month, while speaking to Sakal Times, Girish Mahajan said he is busy and does not have time to look after Pune district as well. However, insiders revealed he was interested in the post of Pune district guardian minister.  

Due to the water crisis in the city, all representatives of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and leaders expressed resistance to Mahajan’s name and approached the CM with their opinion.

A senior BJP leaders said, “Mahajan gave a free hand to Khadakwasla Irrigation Division and they cut down water supply of Pune thrice without any prior notice. It has not happened in the history of Pune. 

We faced stiff criticism of people, activists and opposition leaders in the PMC. Therefore, we requested the CM not to give Pune district guardianship to Mahajan.”