In a politically charged atmosphere in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has once again raised red flags about being sidelined within the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. During Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit, Shinde managed to secure two closed-door meetings — one in Pune and another in Mumbai — within a span of 24 hours, underscoring the seriousness of his concerns.

According to media reports, the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde informed journalists that he raised several issues in these meetings. Among the most pressing were complaints about the disproportionate allocation of development funds to his party’s MLAs and the delays in administrative clearances, especially from the desks of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar.

Frustration Builds Over Fund Distribution and Bureaucratic Delays

Sources close to the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) revealed that Shinde is upset over what he sees as a deliberate attempt to curtail his party’s influence in governance. Several crucial files related to infrastructure projects and constituency development remain pending, allegedly due to lack of support from the Finance Ministry, controlled by Ajit Pawar.

Shinde reportedly told Shah that his MLAs are feeling neglected and that the functioning of the government is being dominated by BJP and NCP ministers. Shah, while offering assurances, also asked Shinde to maintain restraint and avoid making such grievances public, as it could hurt the alliance's image.

BJP’s Strategic Shift: Why Ajit Pawar Is Gaining Ground

Political observers suggest that Shinde's current predicament is part of a larger strategy by the BJP to consolidate control over the state government while reducing dependence on regional players with overlapping Hindutva ideologies.

“Shinde challenged the BJP’s authority during the initial days of government formation. That has not been forgotten,” said a senior political analyst. “He was given importance before the Assembly polls to take on Uddhav Thackeray, but now that purpose has been served.”

Ajit Pawar, in contrast, is seen as less of an ideological threat. His NCP faction does not compete in the Hindutva space and is viewed by BJP as a more manageable and cooperative ally.

Promise Vs Reality: Shinde’s Political Position Has Slipped

Before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP had announced that Eknath Shinde would lead the alliance’s campaign, positioning him as the possible CM face to attract voters from Uddhav Thackeray’s bastion. However, after the BJP won a whopping 132 seats, the power dynamics shifted swiftly. Shinde’s faction secured 67 MLAs, while Ajit Pawar brought in 41.

Despite his electoral performance, Shinde was not given the top post. Devendra Fadnavis was reinstated as Chief Minister, and Shinde had to settle for Deputy CM, following intense negotiations that almost saw him skipping the swearing-in ceremony altogether.

A Man Without Options: Shinde Cornered, But Can't Walk Away

Now facing an identity and authority crisis within his own government, Shinde is left with limited choices. The Mahayuti alliance remains numerically strong without needing to bend too much to his demands.

“Shinde is ambitious and feels he deserves more than what he’s been offered. But with the BJP’s numbers and Ajit Pawar’s support, he has no real leverage,” noted another political source.

Historically, Maharashtra has seen senior leaders take secondary positions gracefully. Ashok Chavan, for instance, served as CM after Vilasrao Deshmukh, and later as a cabinet minister under Uddhav Thackeray. But Shinde doesn’t seem to be built for such a compromise.

Murmurs of a Growing Rift: Is the Mahayuti Headed for Trouble?

While all three alliance partners — BJP, Shinde-led Sena, and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) — continue to project unity on the surface, murmurs of deepening rifts are growing louder in political circles.

The trust deficit between Shinde and BJP has become increasingly evident. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar is steadily cementing his place as the number two power center after the BJP in Maharashtra. Shinde’s relevance, once indispensable to counter Uddhav Thackeray, now seems more symbolic than strategic.