Ajit Pawar gets back finance & energy portfolios

MUMBAI: NCP leader and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar took over the state’s finance & planning and energy portfolios on Wednesday. Pawar had relinquished the charge of these ministries over two months ago when he resigned as deputy CM over allegations regarding the irrigation scam.

Pawar returned to the Cabinet in the first week of December after a ‘white paper’ on irrigation projects gave him a clean chit. In related developments, Congress sources indicated that late leader Vilasrao Deshmukh’s son Amit may soon be inducted into the state Cabinet.

Rural development minster Jayant Patil had been given the charge of the finance department and technical education minister Rajesh Tope was given charge of the energy ministry while Ajit Pawar was away from the Cabinet.

On Wednesday, after the state Cabinet meet, Pawar took charge of both the departments. Ajit Pawar was the water resources minister of Maharashtra for nine years from 1999 to 2008. A state audit alleged that despite spending over Rs 68,000 crore, the water resources department could achieve an increase of only 0.1% in irrigated land.

After widespread allegations, the water resources ministry of the state government came out with a ‘white paper’ on the issue, just before the winter session of the state assembly. NCP president and union agriculture minster Sharad Pawar will be spending a couple of days in Mumbai this week to meet senior party leaders.

NCP’s new state headquarters will be inaugurated at Nariman Point in Mumbai by Pawar on Friday. The Congress party indicated on Wednesday late that leader Vilasrao Deshmukh’s son Amit Deshmukh may be inducted into the state Cabinet soon.

A senior Congress office bearer said, “The party is facing a serious leadership crisis in the Marathwada region where Vilasrao was the strongest leader. Amit seems to be an acceptable face for most Congress MLAs from the region. CM Prithviraj Chavan is expected to discuss this issue with the party high command”.