Ajit Pawar’s appointment as the Guardian Minister of Pune has once again cemented his position as a key political figure in the district. This move by the BJP also ensures that senior leader Chandrakant Patil stays out of the district, preventing any potential conflict between him and Pawar ahead of the upcoming local body polls.

Additionally, by doing so, the BJP has cleared the path for Union Minister of State Muralidhar Mohol, a former mayor, to step in and take charge of the party’s efforts in Pune. Mohol has already begun preparing for the upcoming municipal and local body elections through outreach programs across the city.

Ajit Pawar, who has held the Guardian Minister role before, was replaced by BJP’s Chandrakant Patil following the shift in power in Maharashtra over two and a half years ago. During Patil’s tenure, tensions rose between him and Pawar, particularly over changes in the District Planning Committee’s decisions, which seemed to favor BJP office bearers in rural areas.

This rift posed a risk to the Mahayuti alliance, especially with the municipal elections on the horizon. By reappointing Pawar to the role, the BJP has managed to avoid further conflict and removed Patil from the district.

After the 2019 Assembly elections, where the BJP claimed nine of Pune’s 21 constituencies, the NCP (Pawar’s faction) won eight, and Shiv Sena (Shinde) secured one, it became clear that Pawar’s influence in the region was still strong. Despite the BJP’s growing presence, Pawar’s dominance remained intact, and his reappointment as Guardian Minister reaffirmed his hold over Pune district.

Pawar becomes Guardian Minister 5th time

Pawar, who has held the Guardian Minister post five times since 1999, continues to wield significant influence, particularly in rural areas. This role strengthens the NCP’s financial clout, giving the party an edge ahead of the municipal and district council elections. With the passing of BJP MP Girish Bapat, speculation arose over who would lead Pune, but the BJP’s decision to appoint Patil as the Guardian Minister of Sangli signals a shift in focus, with Mohol now in the spotlight.

Muralidhar Mohol, a prominent Union Minister and former mayor, has been actively involved in Pune’s political affairs, including reviewing the city’s development projects. With Patil removed from the district, the BJP seems to be positioning Mohol to take charge of the party’s efforts in the upcoming municipal elections.

While the leadership question for Pune district seems settled, Pimpri-Chinchwad remains a more complicated issue. Ajit Pawar once had a strong influence over the municipal corporation, but in recent years, power has firmly shifted to the BJP, with many of Pawar’s former allies joining the party. Despite this, Pawar still holds some sway, which could lead to tensions between the BJP and NCP in the run-up to the municipal elections. The political rivalry in Pimpri-Chinchwad is likely to be a key battleground for both parties in the near future.