NEW DELHI: Cracks within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance came out in the open on Thursday after a Shiv Sena leader advocated for deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde to be elevated to the post of chief minister.Speaking to reporters after the MLC election results, former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar said the outcome reflected people's views of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government."When there are doubts about the state government's image, such results are a reflection of it," Dhangekar said."When Eknath Shinde was chief minister, he helped Mahayuti come to power. Shinde should again become chief minister," he added.Dhangekar's remarks were quickly rebuked by the BJP, which said the Shiv Sena leader had no authority to comment on the issue."Out of 149 contested seats (in the 2024 assembly elections), BJP won 137," senior BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said.MLC Pravin Darekar also lashed out at Dhangekar and advised him to "stay within his limits"."The state is progressing like never before under Fadnavis's leadership. He hates Fadnavis so much that he never misses an opportunity to criticise him," the BJP leader said."We never made any comment against…
MLC setback sparks Mahayuti war of words with 'Shinde-for-CM' pitch, ‘Shakuni’ jibe
In short
The discord intensified after Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar suggested Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should replace Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis following losses in the graduates' and teachers' constituencies. In response, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders cited their dominant 2024 assembly performance, where they secured 137 of 149 contested seats, to defend Fadnavis's leadership. BJP figures also warned allies against tarnishing the administration's image and called for exposing internal saboteurs allegedly acting in the opposition's favor.
Key points
- Disagreements over Legislative Council results have reopened contentious debates regardin…: Disagreements over Legislative Council results have reopened contentious debates regarding who should lead the Mahayuti alliance.
- Bharatiya Janata Party officials rely on their commanding assembly election mandate to fi…: Bharatiya Janata Party officials rely on their commanding assembly election mandate to firmly reject calls for leadership changes.
- Rhetorical clashes risk fracturing internal coalition cooperation amid accusations of lea…: Rhetorical clashes risk fracturing internal coalition cooperation amid accusations of leaders acting on opposition-favored agendas.