New Delhi: After a two-day absence that sparked intense speculation about a rift within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Maharashtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has returned to Mumbai. His return signals the resumption of stalled power-sharing negotiations between the Bharatiya Janat Party (BJP), Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.
Shinde’s sudden trip to his native village in Satara, following the cancellation of a crucial meeting with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, fueled widespread rumours of his discontent. Reports suggested Shinde was unhappy about not being appointed home minister in the new government, a position he had reportedly insisted upon. While he hasn’t directly confirmed these reports, he stated that the final decision would be made in an upcoming meeting with the top leaders of the three alliance parties.
The BJP’s decision to retain the crucial home ministry for itself appears to be the primary source of tension. Although the BJP leadership had already informed Shinde that the Chief Minister would be from the BJP, Shinde’s insistence on the home ministry led to a reported standoff. His abrupt departure to his village was widely interpreted as an expression of his displeasure.
Upon his return, Shinde held a meeting with senior colleagues to strategise the Shiv Sena’s position. In a press interaction, he stated that the power-sharing arrangements would be finalised soon in a meeting involving the three alliance leaders. “We have already had a meeting with Amit Shah and will soon have another meeting of the three Mahayuti leaders,” he said.
He skillfully avoided questions regarding the Shiv Sena’s demand for the home ministry and the potential candidacy of his son as deputy chief minister, stating that all decisions would be made after consultation and emphasising the alliance’s commitment to forming a stable government. “After this, an appropriate decision will be taken. We are committed to giving a good government to the people of Maharashtra.”
While claiming his absence was due to illness from campaign exhaustion, the timing of Shinde’s trip, coinciding with crucial negotiations on cabinet portfolios and positions, added fuel to the rumours of internal disagreements. The power-sharing framework was reportedly outlined in a meeting between Shinde, Fadnavis, Pawar, and Union Minister Amit Shah in Delhi earlier in the week. However, the home ministry’s allocation remains a key point of contention, with the Shiv Sena citing Fadnavis’s retention of the portfolio in the previous Shinde-led government as a precedent.
Adding further complexity, the speaker’s position is also a source of friction. The Shiv Sena is reportedly pressuring the BJP to concede this critical post, but the BJP appears unwilling to relinquish either the home ministry or the speaker’s position. Sources suggest that if Shinde doesn’t receive the home ministry, he might refuse the deputy chief ministership and push for his son, Shrikant Shinde, to take that position instead. The BJP is expected to officially announce its choice for Chief Minister in the coming days. The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is scheduled for December 5th at Azad Maidan.
