The minister then was Ajit Pawar, who is now Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, and the CP, Pune, was Meeran Chadha Borwankar, who had recently assumed charge. The decision to auction the land was taken by the Guardian Minister and was supervised by the then Divisional Commissioner.
Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana in its Saturday editorial said CM Shinde went to Delhi to attend a meeting on Naxalism, instead of visiting hospitals in Nanded, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where patients are dying.
Ajit Pawar, on his part, has asserted his position. When asked by a reporter if he was the "great guardian minister," Ajit said, "Tujhya Tondat Sakhar Pado! (May your words become true)."