CM Fadnavis… Now an Even More “Most Powerful CM”.. A New Rule There

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now become an even more “powerful Chief Minister.” The ‘Maharashtra Government Rules of Business, 2026’ has been announced. According to this, Devendra Fadnavis can overrule any decision taken by any minister. However, he must deem that such action is in the public interest and record the reasons for it in writing.

However… although this appears on the surface to be merely an administrative procedure, there is a strong belief that a political decision lies behind it. Under these new rules, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been granted explicit authority to modify or intervene in decisions taken by any minister if he deems it necessary in the public interest.

Although primary responsibility for a department rests with the respective departmental minister, clear and rule-based authority to overturn crucial or controversial decisions now belongs to the Chief Minister. However, while exercising this power, the Chief Minister must record the reasons for the decision in writing.

Rules governing government business in Maharashtra are nothing new; the ‘Rules of Business’, which streamline government functioning under Article 166 of the Constitution, were already in force in the state. However, the new rules of 2026 bring greater clarity regarding the division of powers between the Chief Minister and the ministers. In particular, explicit powers have been conferred on the Chief Minister to review and modify departmental decisions in the public interest.

The ‘Maharashtra Rules of Business 2026’ come as a replacement for the procedural framework that had been in force since 1975. This change comes three years after the Bombay High Court ruled in 2023 that, under the old rules, the Chief Minister did not have the authority to override a decision taken by a minister.