BJP leader's veiled threat to Eknath Shinde on home turf: 'If party gives permission...'

Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. (File/PTI)

• Ganesh Naik warns Shinde that BJP could erase his political existence if allowed
• Naik highlights rivalry over Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Kalyan-Dombivli regions
• Shinde camp dismisses Naik's remarks, asserting Thane as Shiv Sena's stronghold

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BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Ganesh Naik on Monday issued a veiled but sharp warning to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying the Shiv Sena chief's political "name and existence" could be wiped out if the BJP leadership allowed its leaders a free hand.

Naik's remarks, without naming Shinde, came during his visit to a Ganesh mandal in Thane, seen as the Shiv Sena leader's home turf.

"If the BJP gives permission, their name and existence will be wiped out. I am repeating this today," Naik said in an apparent reference to the Shiv Sena with whom the BJP shares power as part of the Mahayuti.

The comments come against the backdrop of a long-running rivalry between Naik and Shinde over control of key pockets in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, particularly Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli. The rivalry has persisted despite the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena being alliance partners in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

Naik, however, sought to underline that party discipline had restrained the BJP's leaders and workers. "The BJP is a disciplined party. Once an order is given, we follow it. Even when our mind does not agree, our workers have tolerated it and remained silent because of party discipline," he said.

Pushing back against claims that Thane is firmly in Shiv Sena's grip, Naik said no political bastion has belonged permanently to anyone. "No bastion belongs to anyone. When I was in another party, we had a mayor in Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander. Thane slipped narrowly. But we won district banks and the zilla parishad," he said.

Naik also expressed dissatisfaction with the Mahayuti's handling of the recently concluded civic elections, arguing that municipal bodies should be left to grassroots workers rather than alliance negotiations.

"Leaders get posts like MP and MLA. Municipal corporations and councils belong to workers. Let everyone contest separately. After the results, the party with more corporators should get the mayor's post, and others should support it," he said, clarifying that this was his personal view.

Referring to seat-sharing talks in Navi Mumbai, Naik revealed the extent of the disagreement between the allies. "The Shiv Sena demanded 57 seats. We were ready to give 20 to 22. Talks continued until the last day. Finally, they filled their forms, and we filled ours. What happened after that was for the good," he said, taking a swipe at the Shinde faction.

Naik said he conveyed his concerns to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, but no final call was taken. "He neither said yes nor no," he added.

The remarks triggered an immediate response from the Shinde camp, which dismissed Naik's comments as empty rhetoric.

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said, "No matter how much anyone speaks, Eknath Shinde is strong. Thane is Shiv Sena's stronghold. Shinde and Shrikant Shinde have strengthened it. Talking is easy, but Shinde has proved himself in the Assembly and municipal elections. The Shiv Sena is the second-largest party in the state."