The growing rift within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, is raising questions about its stability ahead of the upcoming civic body elections. Insiders suggest that BJP’s assertive approach could prompt its alliance partners to contest the elections independently.
Tensions Over Guardian Minister List
The release of Maharashtra’s new guardian ministers list has sparked discontent among Mahayuti leaders. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reportedly expressed displeasure by retreating to his village in Satara, while members of Ajit Pawar’s NCP were also upset over being sidelined in the allocations.
This friction isn’t new. Resentment within the alliance has surfaced repeatedly—over portfolio distribution, power-sharing agreements, and now, the assignment of districts to guardian ministers. At the heart of the discord is the BJP’s increasingly dominant stance, following its strong performance in recent assembly elections.
In 2022, the BJP allowed Shinde to become Chief Minister after he split from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, despite the BJP holding the largest number of seats. However, as the alliance matures, the BJP appears to be asserting control, with Devendra Fadnavis resuming the Chief Minister’s role and key portfolios like the home ministry under BJP leadership.
Civic Polls on the Horizon
The BJP’s aggressive approach is widely seen as preparation for the upcoming civic elections, expected to be held before the monsoon season of 2025. Major municipal corporations, including Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, along with over 25 zilla parishads, are gearing up for polls after a long delay caused by caste-based reservation issues.
The civic polls represent a critical opportunity for grassroots party workers to ascend the political ladder, intensifying competition among Mahayuti partners for greater representation. BJP’s efforts to dominate the alliance seem driven by its ambition to secure a commanding position in these elections.
Past Precedents and Current Challenges
Historically, alliances in Maharashtra have often avoided seat-sharing in local body elections, as witnessed in the 2017 Mumbai civic polls, where the BJP and Shiv Sena contested separately. Though Shiv Sena secured more seats, the BJP emerged as a formidable contender. This strategy allows parties to mobilize their grassroots workers and test their independent strength.
However, the strain within the Mahayuti alliance raises doubts about whether it will stay intact for the upcoming polls. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—comprising Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, and Congress—has already decided to contest the elections independently, foregoing any seat-sharing arrangement.
A Likely Showdown?
The big question now is whether the BJP’s assertiveness will push its allies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, to adopt a similar approach and contest the civic polls without an alliance. Insiders suggest that this possibility is under serious consideration as leaders from both factions fear losing ground to BJP’s growing dominance.
If Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Pawar’s NCP decide to go solo, the Mahayuti alliance could face its most significant test yet, potentially altering the political landscape of Maharashtra ahead of the 2025 assembly elections. For now, all eyes are on how the alliance partners navigate these growing tensions in the run-up to the civic polls.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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