In a significant political development, Congress leader Harshavardhan Sapkal has made startling allegations about the power dynamics within Maharashtra's ruling coalition, claiming that former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis effectively functions as the state's shadow chief minister.
Political Allegations Surface
Sapkal's controversial statements, made on November 20, 2025, have stirred the political waters in Maharashtra. The Congress leader didn't mince words when he accused the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of forming an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) purely for the sake of power and political convenience.
The allegations suggest that despite the official power-sharing arrangement, the real authority in the state government rests with Devendra Fadnavis, who previously served as Maharashtra's chief minister from 2014 to 2019.
Alliance Dynamics Under Scrutiny
According to Sapkal's analysis, the current political arrangement in Maharashtra represents a marriage of convenience rather than ideological alignment. The Shiv Sena and NCP have become allies for the BJP primarily to maintain their grip on power, according to the Congress leader's assessment.
This isn't the first time such allegations have surfaced in Maharashtra's complex political landscape. However, coming from a Congress representative, these comments highlight the ongoing tensions within the state's ruling coalition and the opposition's perspective on the power structure.
Broader Political Implications
The timing of these statements is particularly significant given Maharashtra's crucial position in national politics. As one of India's most economically important states, the stability of its government has far-reaching consequences.
Political observers note that Sapkal's comments reflect the growing discontent among opposition parties regarding the current power arrangement. The shadow chief minister allegation specifically targets what many see as the BJP's continued influence in state governance despite the coalition government.
These developments come amid ongoing political realignments in Maharashtra, where traditional alliances have shifted dramatically in recent years. The Congress party's vocal criticism indicates their strategy to highlight what they perceive as political opportunism among the ruling partners.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes remain on how the involved parties - BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP - will respond to these serious allegations about the true nature of power distribution within Maharashtra's government.
