Maharashtra Cabinet Row Sunetra Pawar Demands Finance Ministry Back From Fadnavis

A big political meeting happened in Mumbai on Sunday. This meeting has now become the top news in Maharashtra.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with top leaders of NCP, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence Varsha Bungalow. The only demand of NCP was - return our Finance portfolio.

What is the whole issue?

When the Mahayuti government was formed in Maharashtra, there was a power-sharing formula between three parties - BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP. Under this formula, the important Finance Ministry was given to NCP.

At that time, Ajit Pawar was the Deputy CM and he was handling the Finance department.

But in January 2026, Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati. After his death, CM Devendra Fadnavis kept the Finance portfolio with himself. He said that he will return it to NCP later.

Now it has been 9 months and NCP has started asking for its portfolio back.

Why NCP met Fadnavis now?

On Sunday afternoon, Sunetra Pawar first called a meeting of NCP's core committee at her bungalow Devgiri.

After that meeting, she led a delegation to meet the Chief Minister.

Who were present in the delegation?

The delegation included all the senior-most leaders of the party. These leaders met Fadnavis together:

1. Sunetra Pawar - Deputy Chief Minister

2. Chhagan Bhujbal - Minister for Food and Civil Supplies

3. Sunil Tatkare - State President of NCP

4. Praful Patel - Senior NCP Leader

5. Hasan Mushrif - Cabinet Minister

6. Dhananjay Munde - Cabinet Minister

7. Jay Pawar - NCP Leader

What did CM Fadnavis say?

After the meeting, Minister Chhagan Bhujbal spoke to the media outside Varsha Bungalow.

He said, "We have requested the Chief Minister to return the Finance portfolio as soon as possible. There is a lot of discussion about this among our MLAs and party workers. The Chief Minister was very positive.

He also added what Fadnavis told them, "The CM said that the state is facing drought right now. We have to make arrangements for funds for farmers. So he needs some time, but he will definitely give the Finance portfolio to NCP."

Bhujbal also said that NCP is expecting the portfolio before the Winter Session of Maharashtra Assembly, which will be held in December in Nagpur.

He made it clear that NCP wants only the Finance department, not any other department.

No Merger, No Reshuffle

There were rumours in the media that both factions of NCP - Sharad Pawar group and Ajit Pawar group - will merge. There was also news that 4-5 ministers will be changed.

On this, Bhujbal said, "There is no truth in this. No discussion about merger happened in our meeting. This chapter is closed. And there is no cabinet reshuffle happening.

He said that there is one minister post vacant in NCP quota and the decision on that will be taken by Mahayuti leaders together.

What will happen next?

Sunetra Pawar is the first woman Deputy CM of Maharashtra. At present, she has Excise, Sports and Minority Development departments. But Finance is the most powerful ministry.

A few days ago, she and her son Parth Pawar also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. So this demand is now very serious.

Now everyone is watching whether CM Fadnavis will return the Finance portfolio to NCP before the Winter Session.