Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader, Eknath Shinde, has once again resorted to resort politics by shifting party MLAs to a hotel in the face of growing friction with the alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Political analysts say that the gesture is part of Shinde’s strategy to shore up his support and, at the same time, serve a clear warning to the BJP that his faction still has the decisive power in Maharashtra’s political arena.
BMC Mayor Post at the Heart of the Tussle
Congress and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leaders have accused each other of instigating a crisis following the government’s change of guard. The Sena side made several attempts to coerce or bribe the MLAs in order to turn the tide in their favour. The BJP side slapped a lawsuit in the court against the MLAs who were lodged in the Mumbai hotel as a preventive measure against defection.
However, sources indicate that the talks between the BJP and Shiv Sena have reached a standstill as neither side is willing to give in to the other. Shinde’s bold move has led to speculations on whether the BJP will ultimately change its mind and, hence, save the alliance from breaking up.
BJP-Shiv Sena Rift Becomes Public
Eknath Shinde: On the one hand, leaders from both camps are making statements emphasising unity and cooperation, which are scandalously far from their actual intention, while their leaders are engaging in a vocal showdown and openly calling each other names. The BJP leaders, at the same time, are criticising the Shiv Sena leadership for their lack of vision, opportunism and creating unnecessary obstructions in the work of the government.
