Is the Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra Facing Internal Turmoil Over Power Struggles?

Mumbai, June 5 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena(UBT) asserted on Thursday that significant dissatisfaction is emerging within the Mahayuti government of Maharashtra, providing the public with a dose of free entertainment from the ongoing internal conflicts. The Thackeray faction, in an editorial for the party’s mouthpiece 'Saamana,' remarked, “Regardless of which party is in power, the discontented members of the government belong to no party. The Mindhe Mandal (Shinde camp) expressed dissatisfaction during Uddhav Thackeray's regime, and this dissatisfaction persists under the Fadnavis government as well. The underlying issue stems from greed for power, the desire for positions, financial interests, ego, and political ambition. Once this disease of dissatisfaction takes root, it becomes entrenched. We can only hope that the ongoing dissatisfaction drama among the three parties in the Fadnavis government does not escalate into internal conflicts within the cabinet in the future.”

“The Mindhe group (Shinde camp) within the cabinet is currently disgruntled with Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. The primary cause of their discontent relates to financial allocations. In essence, the same issues that led to the discontent during the breakaway of the Shiv Sena and the downfall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government are resurfacing. They continue to experience the same root causes of dissatisfaction. Previously, the Mindhe members had labeled Ajit Pawar a 'villain' due to his perceived dishonesty towards the original Shiv Sena,” the editorial highlighted.

“Instead of facing repercussions, Ajit Pawar chose to align with the Mindhe faction, taking on the role of Finance Minister. Ultimately, all ministries rely on the finance ministry for fund allocations. Briefly put, many livelihoods have been adversely affected because Ajitdada holds sway over the government’s funds,” asserted the Thackeray faction.

“Following a cabinet meeting last Tuesday, the frustrations of ministers over the lack of funds erupted. Subsequently, the Mindhe group ministers convened to voice their grievances against Ajitdada for not releasing funds to their respective departments. They expressed their dissatisfaction in front of their leader, Mindhe (Eknath Shinde). 'If the finance department and the finance minister deny us funds, how can we execute development projects?' questioned the disgruntled ministers from the Shinde camp. Reports indicate that Ajitdada was the primary target during this meeting,” the editorial stated.

“During the previous week’s meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde independently assessed the operations of the departments overseen by the Mindhe group, engaging in discussions with the concerned ministers to gauge their current status. The agitated ministers raised numerous questions, such as how they could proceed without funds. If projects are stalled, how will they justify their positions to the electorate?” the editorial continued.

“Given the similarity in complaints and targets, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde attempted to appease them, promising to find a solution by consulting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajitdada Pawar.

“Indeed, within the Mahayuti government, the Mindhe (Eknath Shinde) is seemingly being beaten down, suggesting that there is no easy resolution to this discontent. Consequently, he felt compelled to return to his home village in Satara and engage in counting strawberries in the fields. Whether he has proposed a similar approach to the disgruntled ministers from his faction remains uncertain,” the editorial remarked. Ultimately, it is the citizens of Maharashtra who must bear the burden of the discontent among the ruling parties.

Moreover, the Thackeray camp noted that it is not only the Shinde camp but also BJP legislators who have approached Home Minister Amit Shah to express their complaints regarding Finance Minister Ajitdada Pawar.

“Amit Shah advised his party legislators to maintain their efforts and to follow up with Ajitdada so persistently that he would come directly to him with complaints. This ongoing drama within the grand alliance government in Maharashtra is indeed captivating. If Ajit Pawar is successfully engaging the BJP, which boasts 132 MLAs, and the Mindhe Party formed by Amit Shah, then it is evident that only Ajit Pawar finds satisfaction in this government, showcasing his remarkable political skills,” the editorial concluded.