Maharashtra Budget 2026 : 'Ajit Pawar's Premature Exit'; A Big Challenge to Present the Budget Before Fadnavis

The budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature will be held this year in a historic and emotional atmosphere. The state's budget will be presented on March 6, 2026, and for the first time, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will present the budget himself following the untimely demise of Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. Therefore, the entire state's attention is focused on this session.

According to the information received, the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was held on Tuesday. In this meeting, the proceedings and schedule of the session were finalized. The session will continue until March 25. Due to the holidays of Holi and Gudi Padwa festivals, some changes have been made in the proceedings. There will be a holiday for Holi from March 1 to 3, and due to Gudi Padwa and other holidays, the proceedings of the house will be closed from March 19 to 22.

Notably, a decision has been made to keep both houses open on Saturday, February 28, to ensure smooth operations. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar has taken charge as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. She has become the state's first female Deputy Chief Minister. She officially assumed office at the ministry in Mumbai, marking a new chapter in the Mahayuti government.

Ajit Pawar played an important role in the state's budgetary process. He set a record by presenting the budget 11 times so far. Since 2011, he handled the responsibility of the finance and planning department. During the Mahavikas Aghadi period, he presented the budget in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2024, he also presented the interim and additional budget. On March 10, 2025, he broke Jayant Patil's record by presenting the budget for the 11th time. It was speculated that he would surpass the record of Barrister Sheshrao Wankhede, who presented the budget 13 times. However, due to his sudden demise, that record remained incomplete.

The preliminary preparation of the budget was almost complete. Despite the busy schedule of local elections, Ajit Pawar was in constant contact with the finance department. He also held special meetings with the officials. Therefore, the budget to be presented on March 6 is likely to reflect his policies and plans. Now, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis faces a big challenge. Balancing the expectations of all three parties in the alliance, the state's financial condition, the rising level of debt, and upcoming development projects, a comprehensive budget will have to be presented. Fadnavis has also clarified that, “Dada has done significant work on the budget. I will complete the remaining work.” March 6 will be important not only from an economic perspective but also emotionally. Everyone is watching whether this first budget presented in Ajit Pawar's absence will give a new direction to Maharashtra's politics.