Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Issues Independence Day Flag-Hoisting List for 36 Districts
India celebrates Independence Day on August 15 every year.
On this day, important leaders hoist the national flag at ceremonies in many cities.
The state of Maharashtra is getting ready for its 80th Independence Day celebration.
The state government made a list of who will hoist the flag in each of its 36 districts.
The Governor, Jishnu Dev Varma, will lead the big ceremony in Pune.
The Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, will hoist the flag at the main government office in Mumbai.
Two Deputy Chief Ministers and many other leaders were given different districts.
There is one leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, who is not on the list.
There is also a question about which leader will lead the ceremony in one district called Raigad.
The government says the list is only about the August 15 celebrations.
No official decision about changing district leaders has been made yet.
Maharashtra's General Administration Department issued the official list of dignitaries for flag-hoisting ceremonies across all 36 districts for the 80th Independence Day on August 15.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma will conduct the principal ceremonial flag hoisting in Pune, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will hoist the flag at Mantralaya in Mumbai.
Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar are assigned to Thane and Beed respectively, with each district assigned to a minister.
Veteran NCP leader and Food and Civil Supply Minister Chhagan Bhujbal does not figure in the list.
The Raigad assignment to Bharat Gogawale (Shiv Sena) sparked speculation about a shift in the guardian minister portfolio, which is currently held by Aditi Tatkare (NCP).
- Who
- Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and numerous state ministers
- What
- The release of the official list of dignitaries designated to lead Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremonies across all 36 districts
- When
- Wednesday, ahead of the 80th Independence Day on August 15
- Where
- Maharashtra, including Pune, Mantralaya in Mumbai, and all 36 districts
- Why
- To assign flag-hoisting duties to ministers and dignitaries for the official Independence Day celebrations
NCP / Aditi Tatkare's Position
Shiv Sena / Bharat Gogawale's Position
Raigad Guardian Minister Post
NCP / Aditi Tatkare's Position
Aditi Tatkare (NCP) currently holds the Guardian Minister portfolio for Raigad, and no formal decision or notification regarding a change has been issued.
Shiv Sena / Bharat Gogawale's Position
Bharat Gogawale (Shiv Sena) has actively sought the Raigad guardian minister position, and his assignment to lead the district's flag hoisting suggests a possible shift in the portfolio.
- Issuing Body
- Maharashtra Government's General Administration Department
- Occasion
- 80th Independence Day, August 15
- Districts Covered
- 36 districts
- Principal Ceremony
- Pune, led by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma
- State Headquarters Ceremony
- Mantralaya, Mumbai, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
- Deputy CM Assignments
- Eknath Shinde (Thane), Sunetra Pawar (Beed)
- Notable Omission
- Chhagan Bhujbal, Food and Civil Supply Minister
- Raigad Contention
- Bharat Gogawale (Shiv Sena) assigned flag hoisting; Aditi Tatkare (NCP) holds guardian minister post amid MahaYuti impasse