Dr. Gyan Pathak
The ruling NDA coalition in Maharashtra, known as Mahayuti, is currently grappling with significant internal political turmoil. A major concern arises from the Shiv Sena’s belief that the BJP and NCP are jointly working to undermine their party and its leader, Eknath Shinde. This situation poses serious issues for the BJP’s leadership, as many political analysts speculate that the BJP may be intentionally reducing its allies one by one to realize its long-standing ambition of establishing a ‘one nation, one party’ system.
Following the November 23 elections, the BJP secured 132 seats in the 288-member Vidhan Sabha, just 13 seats shy of an outright majority. The Mahayuti coalition garnered 57 seats, while the NCP won 41. At that time, Eknath Shinde held the position of Chief Minister, but the BJP was eager for a leadership change, and Shinde was unwilling to step down. This impasse delayed the appointment of the new Chief Minister for two days. On November 26, the term of the Vidhan Sabha ended, leading to Shinde’s resignation—a substantial blow to him and the Shiv Sena.
Maharashtra remained without a government for ten days, until BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis took the oath of office as Chief Minister on December 5. Eknath Shinde, albeit reluctantly, accepted the Deputy Chief Minister role, alongside NCP leader Ajit Pawar. The specifics of Shinde’s agreement to this political demotion remain uncertain. However, significant challenges have arisen regarding the distribution of ministerial portfolios among the three Mahayuti allies—BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP—making it evident why cabinet formation has been delayed even two weeks following the election results.
It had initially been rumored that the cabinet expansion in Maharashtra would occur on December 16, with an anticipated composition of 43 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Reports suggested that an agreement was reached whereby Shiv Sena would receive 12 ministerial positions and NCP 10, with the BJP retaining the remaining 20 to 21 ministries. However, the ongoing delays indicate that negotiations among the three parties have been contentious, and no final agreement has yet been established. Eknath Shinde has reportedly been pressing for the crucial Home portfolio, but the BJP is reluctant to relinquish control of this key ministry.
On December 11, leadership representatives from the three parties—Devendra Fadnavis from BJP, Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar from NCP—were scheduled to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss these issues. While Fadnavis and Pawar attended the meeting in Delhi, Shinde’s absence signals his dissatisfaction with the cabinet expansion discussions and portfolio negotiations.
After the meeting with Amit Shah, NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced a new date of December 14 for the cabinet expansion. Devendra Fadnavis not only participated in discussions with Amit Shah but also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet there has been no update from him or Shinde regarding the cabinet formation.
The difficulties surrounding the cabinet creation stem from both interparty and intra-party demands to accommodate representatives from various factions. The situation within Mahayuti is tense, with indications suggesting this is merely a glimpse of the underlying issues.
A Shiv Sena leader expressed concerns that the BJP is deliberately working to diminish the party’s influence within the government. He noted that the BJP is not only denying Shinde the Home ministry but also dismissing requests for the Revenue, Industries, and Housing portfolios, which the Shiv Sena is seeking in the emerging government.
The Delhi meeting among Mahayuti leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was intended to finalize portfolio allocations among the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. Nevertheless, Shinde’s decision to remain absent from these important discussions reveals that no consensus on ministerial appointments and responsibilities was achieved during the meeting.
Following Ajit Pawar’s announcement regarding the cabinet expansion date of December 14, it appears that the BJP and NCP may be moving forward without adequately consulting Eknath Shinde. This escalates Shinde’s and the Shiv Sena’s claims that the BJP and NCP are conspiring to weaken both him and his party.
It is crucial to note that the Mahayuti coalition had campaigned for the elections under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, whose welfare initiatives, especially for women, are credited with contributing to the coalition’s return to power. However, Shinde and his party have had to forfeit leadership to the BJP, signaling a stark warning to other allies about the potential risks of partnering with the BJP. The coalition integrity of the BJP has consequently come under scrutiny. (IPA)
