Sanjay Raut, the head of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has escalated the current political drama in Maharashtra with a series of harsh statements, claiming that the Eknath Shinde group is only a disposable wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)[1]. Raut’s charges raise significant concerns about the stability and longevity of the ruling coalition by illuminating a picture of pervasive mistrust, power conflicts, and an internally divided government [3].
A Suspicious and Power-Playing Relationship
Raut’s allegations cut to the core of the Shinde-Fadnavis coalition, implying that it is based on planned political scheming and brewing animosity rather than respect for one another and shared governance [3]. He claims that amid escalating tensions with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde has strong concerns that he is being watched all the time and that central agencies are following his whereabouts[1][3].
The main thrust of Raut’s argument is that Shinde has never come to terms with the fact that he was not reappointed as Chief Minister following the November 2024 assembly elections[3]. Raut claims that Shinde’s desperate attempts to regain the coveted job are fueled by this unmet ambition, which Fadnavis is supposedly deliberately undermining[3].
Governance Paralysis and Control Eroding
Raut depicts a bleak government that is unable to function due to the tense connection between Shinde and Fadnavis [3]. Despite the ruling coalition’s numerical majority in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, he contends that internal conflict has resulted in a lack of cohesive governance and decision-making paralysis [3].
Raut further claims that Shinde’s political hold on Thane, his ancestral bastion, is being systematically undermined [2][3]. He cites the BJP’s intentional effort to erode Shinde’s influence and strengthen its own clout in the area as demonstrated by the nomination of BJP minister Ganesh Naik as the guardian minister of the nearby Palghar district [2][3]. According to Raut, this dynamic is made worse by Naik’s prior seniority over Shinde [2].
Reduced Contribution and Unfulfilled Promises
Raut adds gasoline to the fire by asserting that Shinde’s position in the government has been drastically reduced [2][4]. He claims that Shinde regularly skips important cabinet meetings and is usually late when he does attend, indicating a growing disenchantment and disengagement from state affairs[2][3]. For instance, according to Raut, Shinde was two and a half hours late for a January 30 meeting of the District Planning Committee [2].
Raut also exposes a potentially explosive claim, citing a senior MLA from Shinde’s camp who claims that Shinde was assured by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that he would continue as Chief Minister and that he will lead the 2024 assembly elections[1][3][4]. If confirmed, this breach of pledge might worsen the already tense relations within the ruling coalition and increase Shinde’s feeling of betrayal [1][3]. Raut claims that after being urged to spend a significant sum of money throughout the campaign, Shinde feels defrauded by the BJP[1][4].
Inward Disquiet and the Fear of Defection
Raut explores the growing discomfort within Shinde’s group in addition to highlighting the conflicts at the highest levels [1][5]. According to him, a number of MLAs are considering joining the BJP under Fadnavis’s leadership or even returning to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT)[1][5].
However, these possible defectors are discouraged from taking any significant action by the threat of central agencies taking action [1][5]. These MLAs are said to have been paralysed by their dread of being investigated and suffering possible consequences, which has left them stuck in a situation that they find more and more intolerable[1][5]. Additionally, according to Raut, the RSS has sent its own personnel to serve as personal assistants to ministers in both the Shinde and Ajit Pawar camps in order to keep an eye on things [3][5].
A ticking time bomb for politics?
According to Sanjay Raut’s accusations, the coalition is severely strained and in danger of disintegrating [3]. The Maharashtra government’s long-term stability is seriously called into question by the allegations of mistrust, power conflicts, and unmet pledges [3]. Raut responds by citing similar denials before to the Shiv Sena split in June 2022, even though a top BJP minister has denied allegations of tensions[1][5]. Raut contends that Ajit Pawar’s superior working relationship with Fadnavis and lack of chief ministerial ambitions put him in a more solid position than Shinde [2][5]. It remains to be seen if the Shinde faction can endure the purported pressure from the BJP and continue to be relevant [3]. There is no denying that Raut’s inflammatory assertions have merely fueled the flames in Maharashtra’s already unstable and unpredictable political scene [3]. The course of Maharashtra’s political development and the future of this tumultuous coalition will be decided in the upcoming months[3].
Citations:
[1] https://www.business-standard.com/politics/fadnavis-shinde-discord-has-hit-maharashtra-s-progress-sanjay-raut-125020200228_1.html
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/fadnavis-shinde-discord-has-hit-maharashtras-progress-claims-sanjay-raut/articleshow/117854491.cms?from=mdr
[3] https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/no-real-communication-anymore-sanjay-raut-claims-tension-between-fadnavis-and-shinde-463126-2025-02-02
[4] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/eknath-shinde-devendra-fadnavis-talking-terms-bjp-sanjay-raut-9813357/
[5] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/02/fadnavis-shinde-discord-has-hit-maharashtras-progress-claims-sanjay-raut
[6] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sanjay-raut-claims-some-in-uddhav-sena-bjp-want-old-ties-restored/articleshow/117747715.cms
