Maharashtra ruling alliance in turmoil as Sena leader Shinde rebels; CM Thackeray calls cabinet meet on Wednesday

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, June 21

Massive trouble is brewing in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi, leading to existential crisis not just in the government but also the party led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. After cross-voting in favour of opposition BJP in the MLC election, putting the Thackeray-led government on the line, rebel Sena leaders led by Eknath Shinde (a virtual number two in the ruling dispensation) last night landed in Gujarat’s Surat, giving rise to multiple possibilities, including a split in Sena.

As about two dozen Sena MLAs went underground, sources said Shinde in his communication with Thackeray demanded a “patch-up with estranged ally BJP” claiming support of 35 MLAs. Though to avoid the anti-defection law, the support of at least 37 MLAs is required

There is still no clarity over exact numbers on the two sides, as according to some reports, there are around 21 MLAs in Gujarat, five of them ministers, and an Independent MLA. There are 56 Sena MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

Shinde, who is yet to speak to the media, tweeting in Marathi, saying, “we are staunch Shiv Sainiks … Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva  and will never betray his ideology and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Saheb’s teachings”.

Though he did not name Thackeray, observers said it was clear who he was targeting. “Sena leaders are worried about shifting of power to Aditya Thackeray, dilution of real ideology (Hindutva) and their growing distance with Thackeray”.

Facing his biggest political challenge so far, Thackeray is putting up a brave face with a show of strength at the Sena Bhavan. He met Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and dispatched close confidantes, Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak, to speak to Shinde.

At the same time, he also removed Shinde from the post of Legislature Party leader in the Assembly. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the leadership is in touch with rebel MLAs, some of whom are being “held against their will by the state police in the BJP-ruled Gujarat”.

He said BJP’s attempts at ‘Operation Kamala’ will not work in Maharashtra.

On Shinde’s demand to return to the NDA fold, Raut said he (Shinde) knows why Sena left the side of the BJP.

“Everything will be fine. Eknath Shinde is a Shiv Sena loyalist. We are in touch with our MLAs, they will all return. They are all dedicated Shiv Sainiks, they were with us in difficult times, these are good times,” Raut said, calling it a BJP’s plot to “defame Maharashtra and destabilise the MVA government”.

The BJP, meanwhile, claimed no hand whatsoever in Sena woes though some leaders said 35 MLAs were in touch with it. There were also speculations of possibility of demand for “President’s rule” and attempts to bring down strength of the House through resignations to stake claim. Observers said it eventually depends upon how many MLAs Shinde can bring over to his side.

BJP’s Maharashtra party chief Chandrakant Patil said the leadership was keeping a close watch. On why Shinde landed in the BJP-ruled Gujarat, Patil said the Sena leader had good relations with all parties and had many friends. “He must have tried many friends and decided on Surat,” he said.

The buzz is that Fadnavis, who has consulted the central leadership, may meet Shinde in Gujarat. Patil said MLAs like Sanjay Kute met Shinde in their “personal capacity”.

MVA ally NCP called it an internal matter of Sena while Congress president Sonia Gandhi dispatched former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath to safeguard its MLAs.

Speaking to the media in Delhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar accused BJP of trying to topple the Aghadi government. Asserting that he was confident of a solution soon, Pawar added that “cross-voting” can happen at times during such elections.

The BJP has been planning to topple the government for two-and-a-half years now, Pawar said. He also dismissed speculations that Shinde wanted to be in the top post instead of Thackeray.

Notably, the BJP won five of 10 MLC seats with the MVA winning the remaining five—two each from Sena and NCP and one from Congress.

Who is Eknath Shinde

Known as a “true Shiv sainik’, Eknath Shinde is one of the most powerful leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena. A multiple time MLA, he currently represents Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency (Thane) in the state Assembly. A mass leader, Shinde enjoys widespread support and is also credited with strengthening the party in other parts, something which Raut also admitted today.

Shinde said to be upset over being sidelined in the party and the government and “interference” of Uddhav Thackeray’ son Aditya, a junior minister in the government, in the functioning of his ministry. Shinde and his supporters had also complained about “step-motherly treatment” of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (NCP leader) in the allocation of funds to his ministry. Apparently he was hoping to be anointed the CM after being appointed the legislative party leader.

From working in a beer brewery and driving an auto rickshaw to becoming one of the most powerful leaders in Sena after Thackerays, it remains to be seen whether Shinde will join the ranks of leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal and Narayan Rane.