Growing Rift Between Shiv Sena and BJP: Eknath Shinde Calls for Adherence to Coalition Dharma

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis (File).

Mumbai:

With the rift between the Shiv Sena, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the BJP now visible publicly, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde delivered a powerful message to his alliance partner during an interview with NDTV.

"My clear stand is that we fully follow the principles of coalition dharma, and our alliance partners should also follow the same," Eknath Shinde emphasized to NDTV.

He further stated, "This alliance is not something formed yesterday or today-this alliance is built on the ideology and legacy of Balasaheb, Atalji, and Advani ji."

In what many interpret as a direct message to the BJP, Shinde declared, "Our alliance has not been formed for power or positions; it is based on shared ideology and common principles."

Leaders from both parties have made politically charged public statements about each other, though avoiding direct confrontations. The tension appears to have intensified as electoral campaigns progressed.

Recently, the Election Commission's Flying Squad and Local Crime Branch raided the office of Shahajibapu Patil, a former MLA from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The raid occurred immediately after Patil's election rally concluded, with police recording video as they entered. Notably, Patil is challenging the BJP, his own alliance partner, in the Sangola election.

Reports on Monday indicated that although Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were staying at the same hotel in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, they did not meet with each other.

Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan sparked controversy by refusing to address Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane's voter bribery allegations, stating he wants to "save the alliance" with the Sena until December 2, the date for the first phase of local body polls.

As local election campaigns intensified, Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction) MLA Nilesh Rane alleged that Rs 25 lakh in cash was discovered at BJP worker Vijay Kenavadekar's residence in Malvan city. Rane claimed this money was intended for voter distribution and represented concrete evidence of BJP workers attempting to influence the election.

BJP leaders dismissed these allegations as politically motivated, arguing that keeping money related to private business at home is not illegal, and that unauthorized entry to conduct a sting operation raises legal questions.

Adding to the tensions, Maharashtra Education Minister Dada Bhuse created controversy by suggesting that Eknath Shinde would return as Chief Minister, which many interpreted as criticism of current Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

During a public address in Maharashtra's Nandurbar, Bhuse said, "You said that previously, Maharashtra has not seen such a Chief Minister, and will not see one in the future. But even today, if you ask the people who is the Chief Minister in their hearts, even today the people will say that the Chief Minister in their hearts is the Honourable Eknathji Shinde Saheb."

Bhuse continued, "And don't worry about what is written in the history of the future, we will certainly see the Honourable Eknathji Shinde Saheb leading Maharashtra once again. And therefore, for the development of this city, I request all of you to bless the 'Panel to Panel' Bow and Arrow (the symbol)."

On November 18, Shiv Sena ministers in the BJP-led Mahayuti government were notably absent from the weekly cabinet meeting. Sources indicated that only Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who leads the Shiv Sena, attended the meeting at Mantralaya (secretariat), amid accusations that the BJP was poaching Shiv Sena leaders ahead of local body elections.