The power struggle in the Mahayuti alliance has intensified in Maharashtra. The Shinde faction canceled the registration of 29 BMC corporators, indicating differences with the BJP over the mayor’s post and seat sharing.
Mumbai: The tussle over power in Maharashtra’s ruling alliance ‘Mahayuti’ has intensified. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena suddenly canceled the registration of 29 corporators of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has exposed the rift within the alliance. There are indications that there has been a rift in relations with BJP over seat sharing and power sharing.
This step, which surprised even his colleagues, has become a topic of discussion in political circles. The corporators who reached the party headquarters were confused by this decision. There is speculation that the reason behind this tough decision is the ongoing resentment within the Shinde faction regarding the important posts of committee chairman and mayor in BMC.
At the same time, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s stay away from the cabinet meeting and cancellation of the meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given further fuel to these speculations. Shinde, away from the political buzz of Mumbai, left for his native village Dare and took part in local campaign events in Satara.
Gaining control of Mumbai in the birth centenary of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray is a matter of political prestige for the Shinde faction. The Shinde faction had introduced the ‘split term’ formula of keeping the first two and a half years of the five-year mayor’s tenure for itself. BJP, the largest party in BMC with 89 seats, has not yet given any official reaction on this. The Shinde faction, with 29 corporators, remains a significant force, but Tuesday’s events have raised questions over the alliance’s future. Although both sides are claiming that the alliance is strong, this power tussle is creating a major crisis in the grand alliance.