Stories
Fadnavis Gets 'Veto' Power: Maharashtra CM Can Now Override Ministers' Decisions
- •Maharashtra's Mahayuti government introduced new rules allowing CM Devendra Fadnavis to override ministerial decisions in public interest, provided reasons are recorded.
- •The Maharashtra Government Rules of Business, 2026, replace the 1975 framework and were notified on August 14 by the General Administration Department.
- •This move follows a 2023 Bombay High Court ruling that stated the CM had no power to review or modify a minister's decision under the old rules.
- •The new rule 13(5) specifically empowers the CM to intervene in any minister’s decision, except in judicial matters, by recording reasons in writing.
- •The amendments also grant the CM powers to seek documents from any department, direct matters to the Cabinet, and allow Cabinet decisions through circulation in urgent cases.
Key Questions Answered
The new Maharashtra Government Rules of Business, 2026, grant Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the legal authority to override decisions made by any minister in the public interest, provided he records the reasons in writing. This framework also gives the Chief Minister the final say on interpreting any of the rules. These changes could reshape the dynamics within the Mahayuti government, where cabinet portfolios are shared among the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP.
The new rules giving Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the power to override ministerial decisions could reshape equations within the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. This change has fuelled speculation in political circles about potential friction within the alliance, particularly between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
