With the sudden demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who held the crucial Finance portfolio, the Maharashtra government now faces a major challenge ahead of the state legislature’s budget session scheduled to begin on February 23.

Handling the Finance Department at short notice is considered a complex task, especially with the budget process already underway. Senior officials and political observers say Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis may temporarily take charge of the portfolio, and could even present the state budget himself.