Fadnavis back to ‘Ramgiri’, Shinde gets ‘Deogiri’

 

 

The curiosity as to who will occupy ‘Deogiri’ in Nagpur during winter session of Maharashtra State Legislature and on other occasions has ended now. In oath taking ceremony, Eknath Shinde was second so he would stay in ‘Deogiri’, not as a protocol but as a precedent. With Devendra Fadnavis making a comeback as Chief Minister, ‘Ramgiri’ will welcome him. From day one, Ajit Pawar did not demand anything. He would continue to occupy ‘Vijaygarh’ which was made especially for him last year.

 

There was not much fuss about the residences this year too. Last year, after Ajit Pawar group of Nationalist Congress Party joined Shinde-Fadnavis Government, for the first time second post of Deputy Chief Minister was created. With the post, the issues of accommodation too were handled in that way. In Mumbai, Pawar and Fadnavis had good adjustment. Pawar wanted ‘Deogiri’ in Mumbai so Fadnavis agreed and stayed at ‘Sagar’. In Nagpur, Pawar did not show much interest in ‘Deogiri’, so ‘Vijaygarh’ (Official residence of the then Joint Commissioner of Police, Aswati Dorje) was created. PWD had to take a lot of efforts to identify the bungalow for Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. PWD had shortlisted three places and finalised the bungalow of the then Joint Commissioner of Police. With new arrangement where Fadnavis has become Chief Minister, the name-plate of Eknath Gangubai Sambhaji Shinde has been put on display at the entrance of ‘Deogiri’. Name of Ajit Ashatai Anantrao Pawar has not been removed from the bungalow ‘Vijaygarh’.

 

Mahayuti though secured majority in Assembly elections, name of Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister was decided on December 4, almost 11 days after declarations of the results. The confusion reigned supreme for long as to whether Eknath Shinde would become Deputy Chief Minister or not. Co-incidently the name plates of Devendra Sarita Gangadharrao Fadnavis at Ramgiri and that of Eknath Shinde are very small as compared to that of Ajit Pawar. In last five years a lot of changes took place. In 2014 when Fadnavis became Chief Minister, no one was deputy to him so nobody stayed in Deogiri. Similarly, in 2019, Maha Vikas Aaghadi Government came and Uddhav Thackeray became Chief Minister. Ajit Pawar took charge as his Deputy. But Pawar did not use Deogiri for longer time. Fadnavis during his tenure made a good use of Deogiri. Sandip Joshi worked as Honourary Secretary of the office and Fadnavis operated from there whenever he visited Nagpur.