For Eknath Shinde, an Ajit Pawar-sized threat in NDA

Maharashtra Cabinet has 43 berths, of which 23 were vacant until the Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLAs joined on Sunday. The Shinde Sena, it is learnt, was hoping to induct at least 11 of its MLAs into the ministry.

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However, now nine berths have already been occupied by NCP legislators, only 14 seats are left vacant in the cabinet and not more than six of the Shinde-led Sena’s legislators can be inducted into the cabinet.

Moreover, with BJP earlier getting past the halfway mark in the House only with the help of 40 Shinde Sena MLAs and 10 Independents, the onus was seen to be on the BJP to ensure that the Shinde side stays with NDA. But Sunday’s development means the BJP can retain power without depending solely on the Sena MLAs.

Now, as a political observer said, the BJP has no “compulsion” to remain with the Shinde side and has an alternative in the NCP legislators to retain power. “This will come as a setback for Shinde and his MLAs. The party may also no longer find the free space in the government and in the coalition it earlier enjoyed,” this observer noted.

Many in the political circles also believe Shinde’s command in the government may get reduced, as Ajit Pawar is seen as a strong administrator as well as a crafty politician, and has much more experience in governance. It could also get morally difficult for the Shinde-led party to justify joining hands with the Ajit-led NCP, it is believed, as they had accused Ajit Pawar of not releasing funds for Sena MLAs while launching the revolt against Uddhav Thackeray.

Another political observer pointed out that the Shinde Sena could find it difficult to explain the current situation “ideologically, too, as they had claimed during the rebellion that an alliance with NCP (in MVA) was unnatural, and that Sena founder Bal Thackeray would never have agreed to it”.

Many leaders in the Opposition also maintained that Ajit Pawar’s induction is a threat to Shinde’s CM position, and this could be an attempt by BJP to find an alternative to Shinde.

“I think Shinde-ji’s difficulties will increase. Shinde-ji joined hands with BJP and brought it to power — his importance was due to that (MLAs on his side),” NCP state president Jayant Patil said. “But now it appears the BJP is trying to find an alternative…. I think there is a possibility that his (Shinde’s) strength in the government will get reduced.”

Rajya Sabha MP and Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Shinde and 16 other “rebel MLAs” will be disqualified soon, based on the Supreme Court’s verdict. This, he asserted, would mean Shinde’s ouster as CM, making the government “unstable”. This, he claimed, is why NCP legislators from Ajit Pawar camp were inducted into the Cabinet.