Maharashtra Budget: Who will present the state budget after Ajit Pawar? It is likely to go to 'this' leader

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The state's Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar tragically passed away in a plane crash that occurred yesterday morning. This sudden incident has shaken the political and economic circles, and now all eyes are on who will take over the finance minister position and who will take responsibility for presenting the state budget in March. Ajit Pawar had consecutively presented the budget for the past six years, and during his tenure, he set a record of presenting it a total of 10 times, which is the highest in the state's history. Jayant Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party holds the record for presenting it nine times.

Due to Ajit Pawar's demise, the responsibility of the state's finance department is likely to temporarily go to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. There is talk in political circles that Fadnavis himself might present the budget. However, no official announcement has been made yet. The state's budget session is set to begin on February 23, with the Finance Minister presenting the budget in the Legislative Assembly and the Minister of State for Finance in the Legislative Council. It will soon be clear who will take the initiative for the 2026-27 budget.

Ajit Pawar was a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and held various responsibilities as Deputy Chief Minister. The investigation of the plane crash is ongoing, and this incident is likely to bring significant changes in Maharashtra's politics. Considering his contribution to the BJP-NCP alliance government, the possibility of assigning responsibility to an experienced leader in the finance department cannot be ruled out. A new appointment is expected to be announced soon by the Governor and the Central Government.

This incident may lead to changes in the preparation of the legislative session, while new priorities will be emphasized in the budget. Political leaders have united to offer condolences to Ajit Pawar's family and party.