Dust of Discontent Drama in Mahayuti; Boycott by Shiv Sena Ministers
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Against the backdrop of local self-government elections, the power struggle in Maharashtra has reached a new climax. The drama of discontent that began in the grand alliance was openly visible in Monday's cabinet meeting. The decision of Shiv Sena ministers to boycott collectively has created a tense atmosphere in the ministry, and political activity increased throughout the day on the sixth and seventh floors. The election fever has gripped the state... and consequently, the series of political 'incoming-outgoing' among BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP is continuously growing. Local leaders, office bearers, from panchayats to district level, are shifting from one party to another in hope of a ticket. These movements are affecting the balance within the grand alliance, with the most unrest seen in the Shinde faction.
The same dissatisfaction erupted today in the ministry. Not a single minister from Shiv Sena attended the cabinet meeting held on the seventh floor. The only one present was Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but the group of ministers accompanying him was missing! Seeing this scene, it became clear how deep the intensity of dissatisfaction has gone. Initially, there were grumblings over fund allocation, government arrangements, and departmental decisions. But the real sting in this dissatisfaction is the rapid influx of Shiv Sena's local leaders into the BJP. In many districts, Shiv Sena officials joining the BJP organization has solidified the feeling that the Shinde group's fortification is weakening. And against this backdrop, today's boycott was wielded as a political weapon.
The dramatic hustle and bustle that followed was seen on the sixth floor of the ministry. After the meeting, all Shiv Sena ministers, led by Eknath Shinde, reached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's office. Sources said that there was a heated discussion about 'incoming' behind closed doors. Discussions in political circles began to circulate rapidly that Fadnavis had reprimanded the Shinde group, saying, “You started in Ulhasnagar; then why blame us?” It is also being discussed that there was a suggestive appeal not to include leaders from each other's parties in the future.
These events have not stopped. Shortly after, Minister Uday Samant from the Shinde faction met with BJP's state president Ravindra Chavan, drawing everyone's attention to what the next 'move' will be after the discontent drama. How deeply this internal equation of the grand alliance has shifted, and how its effects will manifest in the upcoming election frenzy will become clear in the coming days.
In Brief
Amidst the backdrop of local self-government elections, the power struggle in Maharashtra has reached a new climax.
The drama of discontent that began in the grand alliance was openly visible in Monday's cabinet meeting.
The decision of Shiv Sena ministers to boycott collectively has created a tense atmosphere in the ministry.
Political momentum increased throughout the day on the sixth and seventh floors. The election fever has intensified in the state.