Shiv Sena Chief Raises Alarm in Delhi Meeting
In a significant political development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held a crucial meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in New Delhi on Wednesday night. The high-level discussion centered on growing tensions within Maharashtra's ruling coalition, with Shinde formally raising concerns about the state BJP's alleged poaching of Shiv Sena leaders.
Breach of Coalition Dharma Ahead of Local Polls
Highly placed sources within the Shiv Sena revealed that Shinde specifically highlighted state BJP president Ravindra Chavan's move to induct Sena's local leaders into the BJP. This strategic absorption is particularly sensitive as it comes ahead of crucial local body elections across Maharashtra. During the meeting, Shinde emphasized that such aggressive poaching by the alliance partner creates internal divisions that could prove detrimental during the upcoming polls.
The Deputy Chief Minister indicated to the BJP central leadership that these actions were undermining coalition dharma and demoralizing his party cadres. Shinde apprised Shah and Nadda about the growing disappointment among his ministers regarding the state BJP's systematic drive to welcome Sena local leaders into their fold.
Growing Tensions Within Mahayuti Alliance
The Delhi meeting occurred against the backdrop of increasing friction within the three-party Mahayuti coalition. The strain became publicly visible when Shiv Sena ministers boycotted a cabinet meeting in Mumbai's Mantralaya on Tuesday, though Shinde himself attended the session chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The political drama intensified on Wednesday when Shinde skipped a function chaired by both CM Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Mumbai. Earlier, Shiv Sena ministers had met with Fadnavis to formally complain about the BJP's decision to induct local Shiv Sena leaders from Kalyan and Dombivli - a region represented by Shinde's own son, MP Shrikant Shinde.
In response to the Sena ministers' boycott, Chief Minister Fadnavis reminded them that Shiv Sena had initially started poaching BJP leaders from Ulhasnagar and other areas. He stressed that all alliance partners should maintain coalition norms and refrain from taking away each other's leaders.
A senior BJP functionary later commented on the developments, stating that while the exact details of the Shah-Nadda-Shinde meeting remain confidential, the BJP believes coalition dharma should apply equally to all partners. The functionary acknowledged Shinde's right as an alliance partner to meet central BJP leaders and present his concerns.
Neither the Shiv Sena nor the BJP issued any official statement following the New Delhi meeting, leaving the political circles speculating about the future of the alliance as Maharashtra prepares for significant local body elections.
