Ajit Pawar, the NCP national president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, has issued a strong warning to party ministers: don’t ignore the party organization, or you’ll lose your positions. Speaking at the NCP’s one-day Chintan Shivir in Nagpur, Pawar made it clear that ministers assigned as guardian ministers to various districts must step up their game.
“Guardian ministers need to visit their districts regularly and team up with local party leaders when meeting people,” Pawar said. He admitted everyone, including himself, has made mistakes in the past but stressed that it’s time to fix them. “If you don’t, you’ll have to vacate your chair.”
Pawar didn’t stop there. He told ministers who prioritize other work over party duties that the NCP will replace them. “We’ll make sure that post goes to someone else who cares,” he added. He also directed them to report their Mumbai stay plans and district work schedules to state unit chief Sunil Tatkare.
Pawar’s frustration boiled over when several office-bearers, including ministers, showed up late for the flag-hoisting ceremony at the start of the workshop. “We follow strict rules before a plane takes off—our party will do the same,” he remarked.
This isn’t the first time NCP leaders have called out their own. Working president Praful Patel earlier slammed ministers for treating district visits like quick vacations. “They drop in for just one or two hours. Come for real work, not tourism,” Patel said.
Party insiders see these sharp words from Pawar and Patel as a wake-up call to all leaders ahead of upcoming local and civic body elections in Maharashtra. A senior NCP leader explained that most guardian minister assignments are in underdeveloped regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha, far from the ministers’ home districts. This has left many ministers unhappy, leading to fewer visits. The goal? Push them to show up more often and strengthen the party’s base in these key areas.
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