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The Maharashtra chief minister’s remark at the CNN-News18 Townhall in Mumbai was a direct counter to ongoing political speculation about a rift between the BJP and Shiv Sena

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis speaking at the CNN-News18 Townhall in Mumbai. Image/News18
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis made a clear and assertive statement regarding the unity of his alliance and its plans for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections at the CNN-News18 Townhall in Mumbai on Wednesday. His remarks were aimed at dispelling rumours of any internal divisions within the Mahayuti, the ruling coalition comprising the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, apart from Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
“There is no division in our alliance,” Fadnavis explicitly stated. This was a direct counter to the ongoing political speculation about a rift between the BJP and Shiv Sena, particularly following recent events and media reports of an alleged “cold war” between him and deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
Fadnavis sought to project a united front to both the electorate and the opposition. “Eknath Shinde and I are on the same page,” he said, in a bid to reinforce their shared vision and decision-making process.
The chief minister’s comments were made in the context of the much-anticipated BMC elections, a crucial battle for political dominance in Mumbai. Controlling the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, India’s richest civic body, is a prestige issue for all major parties.
Fadnavis declared that the alliance “will together fight BMC elections”, confirming that the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena will present a unified front against their rivals, primarily the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP).
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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