Mumbai: The political storm following the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed’s Massajog village last month has resulted in both the Munde cousins - Dhananjay and Pankaja, who were keen on taking charge of Beed as the district guardian minister, being denied their wish.

The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given the post to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, thereby killing two birds with one stone. While Pankaja has got the guardian ministership of Jalna, Dhananjay has come away empty-handed.

The NCP minister Dhananjay Munde has been under a cloud for his close links with the MCOCA detainee Walmik Karad – whose involvement in the brutal murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh over the demand for Rs 2 Crore ransom is under investigation. Fingers have been pointed at Munde, who is also close to Ajit Pawar, for providing political protection in the matter of several controversies in Beed, the district when he was the district guardian minister between 2019 to 2024. Ajit Pawar will now hold charge for Beed as well as his home district Pune, according to the list of district guardian ministers announced on Saturday.

About The District Guardian Minister

The district guardian minister is in charge of a particular district and supervises the development works, approves plans and funds, and provides leadership to the district administration. The post is crucial in terms of political leadership as the entire district machinery takes orders from the district guardian minister when it comes to almost all the important issues – right from the law and order and appointments of the officials. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will hold the responsibility for Gadchiroli – the tribal district with a presence of Maoists.

In an indication of the sway Shiv Sena has over the BJP, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has been appointed as the guardian minister for Mumbai City and Thane. The BJP was keen to appoint its minister for the City district but the Shiv Sena seems to have prevailed over the decision. The state government has, for the first time, introduced a concept of two guardian ministers for one district. The Mumbai Suburban District will have Ashish Shelar as the guardian minister, while Mangal Prabhat Lodha will be the co-guardian minister. The NCP has clinched Raigad as Aditi Tatkare has been appointed for the post where Shiv Sena's Bharat Gogawale has been sidelined.