By PC Bureau
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s late-night meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday has set the stage for the expansion of the Mahayuti government, and for further marginalizing Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Sources indicate that Shinde, who once held significant sway as a key player in the alliance, is now being pressured to accept the Urban Development Ministry after his demands for the Home and Revenue portfolios were flatly denied by the BJP.
This development not only highlights Shinde’s waning influence but also signals a deliberate strategy by the BJP to consolidate its dominance in the alliance at the expense of its partners.
The cabinet expansion is likely to reinforce Shinde’s diminishing stature in Maharashtra’s political hierarchy. With 132 MLAs, the BJP has firmly established its legislative strength, reducing its dependence on Shinde’s Shiv Sena for survival. There are even indications that the BJP is positioning itself to poach on pposition MLAs, further eroding Shinde’s leverage.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Ajit Pawar is poised to retain the critical Finance Ministry, solidifying his clout within the Mahayuti, while Shinde’s faction faces the ignominy of being relegated to less prominent portfolios like Public Works and Urban Development. These developments reflect a clear marginalization of Shinde’s camp,.
Sources reveal that the BJP plans to retain 20 key departments, while Shiv Sena and NCP will be limited to managing 10 ministries each. This distribution underscores the BJP’s intent to maintain a firm grip on governance, a sentiment reportedly echoed by Shah during his meeting with Fadnavis and BJP chief JP Nadda. Shah is said to have directed Fadnavis to resist external pressures and secure major portfolios, ensuring the BJP’s dominance in decision-making. This approach has left little room for negotiation, with Shinde finding himself increasingly isolated within the alliance. Observers note that the BJP’s growing self-reliance and strategic sidelining of allies could render Shinde’s role in the Mahayuti largely symbolic.
For Shinde, the days ahead seem poised to bring further challenges as he grapples with his reduced significance and struggles to maintain relevance in an alliance increasingly dominated by the BJP.
Caught in the crossfire of Maharashtra’s shifting power dynamics, Shinde is forced to contend with a shrinking political footprint. Marginalized by BJP’s dominance and overshadowed by Ajit Pawar’s NCP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction faces the grim prospect of surviving on the crumbs of power. With the BJP tightening its grip on the Mahayuti alliance, Shinde’s leadership is under siege, raising questions about his future in Maharashtra’s ever-changing political landscape.
