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Between August 13 and 22, Shinde missed a series of high-profile cabinet and review meetings chaired by the chief minister, triggering speculations of an internal rift
While both Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde insist that governance remains their priority, buzz of chinks in the armour is swirling. (PTI)
For the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), August has been unusually eventful—and telling.
Between August 13 and 22, Shinde missed a series of high-profile cabinet and review meetings chaired by Fadnavis. His absence from four consecutive engagements, all involving crucial governance matters, has sparked speculation over whether all is well within the state’s ruling coalition.
A String of Absences
The sequence began on August 13, when Shinde skipped the state cabinet meeting. Reports suggested this followed an internal row over Independence Day flag-hoisting assignments. Shinde’s ministers, Dada Bhuse and Bharat Gogawale, were not given the honour of hoisting the flag in their respective districts—Nashik and Konkan. Instead, BJP minister and Fadnavis loyalist Girish Mahajan hoisted the flag in Nashik, while in Raigad, NCP leader and minister Aditi Tatkare was given the role. Both districts are yet to get full-time guardian ministers. As a mark of protest, Gogawale even went to Delhi to meet the BJP leadership. Later, Shiv Sena leaders clarified that Shinde had only extended a family stay in Srinagar, which is why he missed the cabinet meeting.
Around the same week, Fadnavis convened a law-and-order review for Ganeshotsav at Sahyadri Guest House. As Mumbai city guardian minister, Shinde’s absence was noticed prominently. This became the second high-level meeting in a row where the deputy CM was missing. On August 19, the state cabinet met again. For the second straight cabinet sitting, Shinde stayed away though he was in Mumbai and chose to inspect the Mithi river amid heavy rains.
Then came August 22, when Fadnavis chaired a sector-wise “war room” review focused on AMRUT 2.0 and social-sector schemes. The chief minister, visibly frustrated with delays, pulled up senior officials and set a strict March 2026 deadline for completing projects worth Rs 9,000 crore. Once again, Shinde—who oversees the urban development department—was not present. His absence was striking, especially as the criticism centred on his portfolio.
Shinde also skipped a few public events where the CM was the chief guest, including inauguration of a double bridge in Pune. In Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, where Fadnavis and Shinde were supposed to launch a drinking water project for the Marathwada region, Shinde was missing yet again.
Public Defence, Political Optics
On record, both BJP and Shiv Sena leaders have tried to downplay the issue. Shiv Sena spokesperson Arun Sawant said Shinde’s absences were due to prior commitments—flood inspections, extended tours, and official travel.
“Eknath Shinde is a people’s leader. When people face problems, he does not stick to protocol and immediately goes on the ground to help them. His absence from the cabinet meeting was because he was helping flood-hit Mumbaikars. Others who are criticising him should also see that some ministers skipped the cabinet meeting to go to Dubai to watch the India-Pakistan T20 match.”
Yet, in politics, optics matter as much as facts. Missing multiple cabinet sittings and review sessions chaired by the CM—particularly when one’s department is under scrutiny—fuels the perception of friction at the top.
Fadnavis, on his part, has been assertive through August. His reviews have stressed discipline, deadlines, and efficiency, particularly on central schemes such as AMRUT 2.0. His stern words—“delays will not be tolerated”—were widely quoted. However, the fact that his principal deputy, responsible for urban development, was absent at that very moment has not gone unnoticed.
The Stakes for Mahayuti
During his last Delhi visit, Shinde reportedly raised several concerns with BJP’s central leadership, including his dissatisfaction with how the Mahayuti government is functioning. Sources suggest he conveyed that he was unhappy with the way decisions were being handled in the state.
The Mahayuti government, formed in 2022, is built on a fragile balance between the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP bloc. Each partner controls influential ministries and has a separate political base to protect. For the alliance to function smoothly, coordination and public displays of unity are essential.
Even if Shinde’s absences were coincidental, the timing is still politically damaging. If they reflect dissatisfaction—over protocol, influence, or decision-making—they could signal deeper cracks. Either way, the Opposition has been quick to seize on the optics, questioning the government’s cohesion.
But Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye dismissed the talks, saying: “This story of unrest in Mahayuti is created only by the media. No leader has said they are unhappy. When Shinde missed meetings, there were reasons—on one occasion Mumbai was battling heavy rains, on another he had official travel. Our leaders have always put people ahead of themselves.”
Looking Ahead
Ganeshotsav, beginning on September 27, will test the government’s law-and-order and civic preparedness. Urban projects under AMRUT 2.0 face a March 2026 deadline. Also, Maharashtra is soon heading into election mode, with local body polls and the assembly election cycle approaching. Given the context, the Mahayuti leadership can ill-afford mixed signals.
According to BJP media chief Navnath Ban, “The chief minister is the head of the government, and all files go to him for final approval—even from Ajit Pawar’s department. The CM can call any department’s meeting. There are no cracks in Mahayuti; all is well.”
For now, both Fadnavis and Shinde insist that governance remains their priority. But the pattern of August 2025—four successive high-level meetings chaired by the CM, four absences by the DyCM—poses an unavoidable question: is all truly well in the Mahayuti government, or are the cracks beginning to show?
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa…Read More
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa… Read More
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