1 week ago
Maharashtra BJP Moves to Keep Mahayuti Allies United
Maharashtra is governed by three parties working together in an alliance called Mahayuti.
The BJP is the biggest party in this alliance.
Its leaders recently met with Shiv Sena and NCP leaders to improve cooperation.
This happened after Rahul Gandhi received a strong response from students in Pune.
The parties agreed that their leaders should not publicly attack one another.
They also said they would fight local elections together.
The government plans to fill 171 positions in state-run corporations.
The NCP wants control of the finance department, and the parties disagree about how development money should be shared.
The BJP wants the alliance to stay united because political challenges are increasing.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convened a Mahayuti coordination meeting with Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
The BJP outreach followed Rahul Gandhi’s well-received student programme in Pune, according to sources.
The partners agreed to avoid public criticism and contest all local body elections jointly.
Appointments to 171 state-run corporations are to be completed within a month, potentially in a 50:30:20 party ratio.
The NCP is seeking the finance portfolio, while disputes continue over development funds and alliance decision-making.
- Who
- The Maharashtra BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, led at the meeting by Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
- What
- The Mahayuti partners held a coordination meeting to reduce internal tensions and strengthen joint governance.
- Where
- At Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence, Varsha, in Maharashtra; Rahul Gandhi’s referenced programme took place in Pune.
- When
- The meeting was held on Monday; the article does not provide a calendar date.
- Why
- The BJP is responding to alliance tensions, demands from its partners, opposition activity and the political response to Rahul Gandhi’s student programme.
BJP and Coalition Leadership
Alliance Partners
Need for unity
BJP and Coalition Leadership
The BJP says coalition friction is natural and is seeking collective decisions, shared accountability and a rule against public criticism among the three parties.
Alliance Partners
Shiv Sena and NCP leaders say the BJP had previously tried to sideline its partners and now needs to recognize their importance in government and elections.
Government decision-making
BJP and Coalition Leadership
The BJP maintains that leaders must manage competing demands within available funds and that all three parties share responsibility for government performance.
Alliance Partners
The NCP is demanding a greater role in decision-making, including what it calls its right to receive the finance portfolio.
Political strategy
BJP and Coalition Leadership
The BJP has enough Assembly support, including independents and smaller parties, to cross the majority mark without its allies but is pursuing a cohesive coalition.
Alliance Partners
Alliance partners argue that growing opposition activity and challenges to the government make cooperation and fair power-sharing necessary.
Key facts
- Alliance
- Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra.
- Assembly strength
- The BJP has 132 seats in Maharashtra’s 288-member Assembly; Shiv Sena has 57 and the NCP has 41.
- Corporation appointments
- Appointments to 171 state-run corporations are expected to be completed within a month.
- Proposed allocation
- The proposed corporation-sharing ratio is 50% for the BJP, 30% for Shiv Sena and 20% for the NCP.
- Local elections
- The three partners agreed to contest all local body elections jointly.
- Development funds
- A proposed formula would send up to 70% of district-level plan funds directly to local MLAs, with 30% distributed among alliance partners by the guardian minister.
- Finance portfolio
- The NCP is seeking the finance ministry, currently held by Fadnavis after it was held by Ajit Pawar until his death in January.
Quotes
Chandrashekhar Bawankule
Maharashtra Revenue Minister and head of the Mahayuti coordination committee
“At least now they should concede the finance minister portfolio, which is our right. The big-brother attitude works when you don’t have opposition. As compared to the BJP, which is under attack from many fronts, alliance partners have reasons to drive decision-making in government. But we are just asking for our rights”
indianexpress.com
“After the 2024 Assembly polls, the BJP was on a high pedestal. They were super confident and were saying they would contest the 2029 polls solo. They were systematically trying to sideline us in the name of political expansion”
indianexpress.com










