Just over a year ago, when Eknath Shinde planned a coup and vertically split the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. This had left many in a state of shock, however, it was not the split that had shaken the public, but because a party loyalist did it. Shinde walked away with around 40 MLAs out of Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs. He went on to crack the best position for himself in the new government, as he became the Chief Minister in alliance with BJP government.
Now, the things have once again taken a sharp turn in Maharashtra politics as BJP, who acted as key player in the coup, has found a “partner in crime.” Nationalist Congress Party’s Ajit Pawar along with 9 other leaders have joined Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis led government on July 2. But this will make Shinde’s position in the government precarious.
This is because, in 2019, BJP emerged as the single largest party by bagging 105 out of 288 seats in the state election. Shinde came to their support with 40 MLAs in 2022, giving them a chance to govern the state once again. He had the bargaining power and took the CM’s position, pushing Fadnavis on the back seat.
Now, according to Ajit Pawar he has support of 40 MLAs. Of them eight, excluding Pawar, has already taken oath as ministers. Pawar has already been the deputy CM of the state five times, and his ambition to be the CM is not hidden. Soon after him joining the government, senior opposition leaders like Sanjay Raut asserted that Pawar is likely to be the next CM of Maharashtra.