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The Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, a coalition of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is facing growing internal tensions. These tensions are not new, with the alliance partners engaging in a constant tug-of-war for political credit and influence, a trend that has intensified in the run-up to the upcoming Assembly elections at the end of the year.
The cracks first surfaced with a credit war over the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana,' a scheme announced for women by the ruling alliance. While Chief Minister Eknath Shinde initiated the scheme, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar launched a promotional campaign that deliberately omitted the title 'Mukhyamantri,' leading to a political firestorm. This incident exposed the underlying rivalry and the constant struggle for power within the coalition.
Further exacerbating the situation was the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. The incident prompted differing statements from the alliance partners, with each party attempting to leverage the event for its own political advantage. The NCP accused the statue sculptor of deliberately distorting the image of Shivaji Maharaj, while the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, made inflammatory remarks about its alliance with the NCP.
The war of words between the alliance partners has reached a fever pitch, with the NCP threatening to break away from the coalition and the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, gleefully predicting the alliance's imminent collapse. The upcoming Assembly polls, with its focus on seat distribution, have further intensified the conflict, as each party aims to maximize its own political gains. This internal strife is likely to continue until the polls, potentially influencing the outcome of the elections.
The Mahayuti alliance is facing a serious crisis. The internal tensions and the public display of animosity are eroding the coalition's credibility and effectiveness. It remains to be seen whether the alliance will be able to overcome its internal divisions and present a united front in the upcoming elections. The outcome will have significant implications for the political landscape of Maharashtra and the future direction of the state.
Source: Even before Shivaji statue collapse, cracks already emerge in Mahayuti alliance