All's not well in Mahayuti? Shinde's absence from key meetings, Delhi visits give ammo to opposition

Shinde and his family called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 6.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde's multiple visits to New Delhi and absence from key meetings have once again fueled speculation of political unrest within the Mahayuti coalition ahead of the local body polls.

While Shinde rubbished the Opposition leaders’suggestions by saying these trips are linked to significant upcoming political developments in the state, recent events have sparked speculation over whether all is well within the state’s ruling coalition.

Criticism from CM

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last week expressed displeasure at the performance of the urban development department led by Shinde, calling it a “poor show”.

The CM’s comments were followed by senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule criticising the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), which falls under Shinde’s urban development department (UDD), for the “flawed planning and implementation” of the NAINA project.

Absence from meetings

Shinde was conspicuous by his absence at public events and cabinet meetings too.

Fadnavis and Shinde were reportedly expected to attend the inauguration of a double bridge in Pune. However, Shinde skipped the grand event.

The duo was to launch a drinking water project for the Marathwada region. Shinde was missing there too. The latest was the Shiv Sena convention in Mumbai to mark the Raksha Bandhan celebrations. But Shinde did not turn up there as well.

He was missing at the recent meeting convened by the CM to take stock of the law-and-order situation in view of the 10-day Ganesh festival.

According to a report in News18, Shinde's absences follow an internal row over Independence Day flag-hoisting assignments. Shinde’s ministers, Dada Bhuse and Bharat Gogawale, were not asked to hoist 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 task.

Trips to Delhi

Shinde and his family called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 6.

Shinde reportedly discussed issues related to his party’s treatment at the hands of the BJP in the state.

He was successful in meeting them on his third Delhi visit reportedly after returning empty-handed twice.

What did Shiv Sena say?

Shiv Sena spokesperson Arun Sawant told News18 that Shinde’s absences were due to prior commitments.

“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,” he said.

Meanwhile, during a recent interview to PTI, the former Maharashtra chief minister ruled out any concern about the BJP-led alliance.

“Is it wrong to meet people who fulfilled the dreams of Balasaheb Thackeray by removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir or by building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya?” asked Shinde. He said he was a little bothered about what the Opposition felt about his Delhi visits.

“They are free to think whatever they want. I do not come here without any work,” he told PTI.