Mumbai, Nov 19 (NationPress) Following the absence of several Shiv Sena Ministers from a cabinet meeting within the BJP-led Mahayuti government, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey asserted on Wednesday that some ministers and approximately 20 MLAs from the ruling coalition are currently in communication with their party.

In a statement to IANS, Anand Dubey remarked, “There is an old proverb: if you plant a babool tree, you can’t expect to reap mangoes. The BJP conspired with Eknath Shinde to dismantle our government. The effects of that betrayal were evident in yesterday’s cabinet meeting, where over half a dozen ministers were absent due to growing resentment.”

He mentioned that there is increasing tension within the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra.

“The BJP operates a double-engine government alongside agencies like the ED and CBI, which has diminished the strength of the Shiv Sena faction. A significant rift appears imminent. Our sources indicate that a few ministers and 20 MLAs from the Shiv Sena faction are in contact with us. However, we are refraining from making any decisions until we can confirm their loyalty this time. As municipal elections approach, this deepening divide is becoming more apparent. The public is being reminded that those who wrong others ultimately face repercussions,” he stated.

Dubey noted that while the government may still hold the numbers, the internal strife remains palpable.

“Even if some of Eknath Shinde's MLAs depart, Ajit Pawar remains part of the alliance. However, the dynamic between Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis is not as strained as that between Shinde and Fadnavis. Eknath Shinde’s primary goal is to oust Fadnavis and take on the role of Chief Minister, but Fadnavis is determined to prevent that. This is why Shinde frequently travels to Delhi to meet Amit Shah and attempts to establish his own faction,” he explained.

On social media, Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), criticized the alliance, labeling the ministers’ absence from the cabinet meeting as “concerning”. He suggested that the Shinde Sena missed the meeting due to dissatisfaction with the BJP over seat distribution in the elections and the fear of a split within their faction.

“However, boycotting the cabinet meeting for their selfish motives is an affront to Maharashtra and its citizens,” Aaditya Thackeray remarked.

“Cabinet meetings are intended to tackle public issues, not to manage trivial internal conflicts,” he emphasized.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra consists of the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.