Fresh cracks have appeared in Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance, with a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader launching a sharp public critique against Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The remarks have exposed underlying tensions just months after the coalition government was formed.
Public Criticism Exposes Coalition Rift
BJP's Maharashtra unit vice-president and former minister, Ravindra Chavan, openly questioned the contribution and demands of Ajit Pawar's NCP group. Speaking to reporters, Chavan suggested that the NCP faction, which joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in July 2023, should not make excessive demands for the upcoming legislative council elections and future polls.
"Those who came (into the alliance) just yesterday are making demands for seats. They should first understand their strength and reality," Chavan stated, highlighting the simmering discontent over seat-sharing arrangements. He further pointed to the recent Rajya Sabha elections, where the Mahayuti candidate faced a stiff challenge, as evidence of the NCP faction's limited influence.
The Core of the Dispute: Performance and Seat Claims
The heart of the conflict lies in two key areas: electoral performance and the allocation of seats for future elections. Chavan's comments directly challenged the political weight of Ajit Pawar's group. He implied that their actual strength on the ground did not justify high demands for council seats or Lok Sabha constituencies.
This public airing of grievances is significant because it comes from a senior BJP office-bearer, not just a backbencher. It signals that frustration within the BJP cadre over accommodating the new ally is boiling over into public view. The NCP faction, led by Ajit Pawar, has been seeking a respectable share of seats to contest, aiming to establish its identity and reward its legislators who defected from the undivided NCP.
Implications for Maharashtra's Political Stability
This episode threatens the stability of the Mahayuti alliance, which comprises the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP. The coalition was stitched together to form a stable government after a period of political turmoil. However, managing the ambitions and expectations of three distinct partners has always been a complex task.
Chavan's outburst suggests that the seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming legislative council polls and the general elections are proving to be a major flashpoint. If not contained, such public spats could erode the coalition's unified front, embolden the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and create governance challenges. It puts pressure on top leadership from all three parties to rein in their members and resolve differences behind closed doors.
The coming days will be crucial. The leadership, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, will need to engage in serious dialogue with their BJP counterparts to smooth over the rift. The alliance's longevity may depend on its ability to present a united face and distribute political opportunities in a manner that satisfies all partners, at least minimally.
