India, June 10 -- The BJP will, in all likelihood, not return the finance portfolio to its ally, the NCP, led by deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar. The party will, instead, offer its junior alliance partner either the energy or rural development portfolio.

With the monsoon session of the state legislature scheduled to begin on June 22, the NCP is stepping up pressure to get back the finance portfolio, taken over by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis after the death of NCP chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis also presented the FY 2026-27 budget as finance minister in March this year.

The NCP, at core committee meetings held recently, decided to push for the finance department to be returned to it. Party leaders have deci...