Mahayuti Tussle Over Nashik Guardian Minister Post Intensifies Ahead of 2027 Kumbh Mela
• Mahayuti Deadlock: Nashik Guardian Minister Post Remains Vacant
• Girish Mahajan vs. Shinde Sena: The Battle for Nashik
• The Key Players: Bhujbal, Bhuse, and Kokate in the Ministerial Race
The Sprouts SIT investigates Nashik’s fierce political tug-of-war as Mahayuti allies clash over the Guardian Minister post. With control of 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela projects at stake, BJP’s Girish Mahajan, NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal, Shinde Sena’s Dada Bhuse, and Advocate Manik Kokate are at the center of Maharashtra’s most crucial power struggle.
- Mahayuti Tussle Over Nashik Guardian Minister Post Intensifies Ahead of 2027 Kumbh Mela
- • Mahayuti Deadlock: Nashik Guardian Minister Post Remains Vacant
- • Girish Mahajan vs. Shinde Sena: The Battle for Nashik
- • The Key Players: Bhujbal, Bhuse, and Kokate in the Ministerial Race
- Kumbh Mela Planning Committee: Girish Mahajan Consolidates Control
- Political Signaling: The Strategic Entry of BJP MLA Mangesh Chavan
- The Stakes: Infrastructure, Prestige, and Electoral Capital
The prestigious role of Nashik’s Guardian Minister remains unresolved due to persistent disagreements within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. However, Minister Girish Mahajan has secured a commanding position by being handed the reins of all planning for the upcoming 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. This strategic move, investigated by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT), places Mahajan at the center of one of Maharashtra’s most significant religious and infrastructural undertakings. The assignment grants him oversight of development projects worth thousands of crores, elevating the political stakes exponentially.
The 2027 Kumbh Mela, a mega-event for the Hindu community, has transformed the Guardian Minister portfolio into a crucial prestige project for the Mahayuti’s constituent parties. A fierce tug-of-war is underway among senior leaders from the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Key aspirants include BJP’s Girish Mahajan, NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal and Advocate Manik Kokate, and Shinde Sena’s Dada Bhuse. The deadlock continues as no consensus has been reached, leaving the post vacant but the power struggle more active than ever.
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Kumbh Mela Planning Committee: Girish Mahajan Consolidates Control
In a decisive move, the government has established a Kumbh Mela Ministerial Committee to ensure excellent planning and effective execution of the event. Significantly, all four ministers in the race for the Guardian Minister post have been included in this committee. However, Minister Girish Mahajan has been appointed as the committee’s chairman, effectively centralizing all authority with him. This development allows Mahajan to operate with significant control over Nashik’s affairs, irrespective of the formal Guardian Minister title.
This consolidation of power follows a period of intense political friction. Mahajan’s initial announcement as Guardian Minister was swiftly put on hold after vehement opposition from the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. The current arrangement, revealed by the Sprouts News Investigation Team, appears to be a compromise that functionally grants Mahajan the authority he sought. His current stance underscores this control, effectively challenging his political opponents by demonstrating that the Kumbh Mela responsibilities trump the formal ministerial title.
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Related Article: Nashik Kumbh Mela 2027 Budget: A Political Power Struggle.
Political Signaling: The Strategic Entry of BJP MLA Mangesh Chavan
Adding another layer to the political intrigue, BJP MLA from Chalisgaon, Mangesh Chavan, considered Mahajan’s right-hand man, has made a conspicuous entry into Kumbh Mela planning. Chavan’s presence at key meetings, where local legislators from other parties were absent, has been noted as a significant political signal. He was a notable attendee at a recent ‘Kumbh Mathan’ meeting chaired by Mahajan under the auspices of the Nashik-Tryambakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority.
His involvement was further highlighted at a high-level meeting in Nagpur chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. This meeting focused on critical road infrastructure development linking to Nashik for the Kumbh Mela. Chavan’s accompaniment of Mahajan to such a strategically important discussion has heightened anxieties among the Shinde and Ajit Pawar factions. It signals a firm BJP grip on the planning and execution of the mega-event.
The Stakes: Infrastructure, Prestige, and Electoral Capital
The core of the conflict lies in the immense scale of the 2027 Kumbh Mela. The event necessitates thousands of crores worth of development projects in Nashik and Tryambakeshwar, encompassing road expansions, water supply, public amenities, and tourism infrastructure. Control over these projects translates to significant influence over contract allocations and the ability to build a political legacy. For the Mahayuti alliance, delivering a successful Kumbh is critical for maintaining its political influence and appealing to the Hindu electorate.
The ongoing political maneuvering confirms that the battle for Nashik is far from over. While the Guardian Minister’s post remains officially vacant, the functional control exerted by Girish Mahajan through the Kumbh Mela Committee sets the stage for continued behind-the-scenes negotiations and potential conflict. The Sprouts News Investigation Team will continue to monitor the developments in this critical political story, which has major implications for Maharashtra’s governance and electoral landscape.
