India, July 20 -- The state finance department is back in focus amid the hectic parleys that are going on behind the scenes in the state. First it was the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP which publicly said it had not given up its claim on the finance department. Till January this year, the crucial department in the state government was headed by Ajit Pawar. Following his death, his post was claimed by Sunetra Pawar but chief minister Devendra Fadnavis kept the department to himself as the annual state budget was being prepared and he could not risk giving it to a political newbie.

As the NCP (SP) began tapping the possibility of joining the NDA at the Centre and in the state, one of the top items on its wishlist was this coveted department. The p...