3 min readMumbaiJun 21, 2026 08:50 PM IST
First published on: Jun 21, 2026 at 08:50 PM IST
Amid speculation that MLAs of Shiv Sena (UBT) too would be lured over to the ruling Mahayuti alliance after a rebellion by six of its nine Lok Sabha MP’s, a voice from an unlikely quarter – an MLA from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has requested leaders of the ruling Mahayuti government in the state to rethink bringing in MLAs.
“If Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of the opposition want to join the NDA, then they are most welcome to do so, as we need a stronger centre to pass several important bills. But do we really need MLAs from the opposition in Maharashtra?” asked BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh, while speaking to The Indian Express.
Deshmukh represents Savner assembly seats from Nagpur district in Maharashtra. At present, in the 288-member Legislative assembly, the ruling Mahayuti has 237 MLAs, which is more than two-thirds majority.
“The Maharashtra government already has more than two-thirds MLAs from all three parties. Irrespective of the eagerness of opposition MLAs to join Mahayuti, we need to decide whether we really want any more MLAs as the existing lot is enough and capable,” he said.
Deshmukh maintained that the incoming of more MLAs might lead to injustice against existing MLAs. “It is my request to all leaders of Mahayuti that they rethink this strategy of bringing opposition MLAs to the ruling alliance,” he said.
Deshmukh’s statement came days after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hinted at more rebels coming to his party, when he said, “Yeh toh sirf trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai (This is just a trailer; the movie is still not over).” Shinde was speaking at the Sena’s foundation day rally on Friday.
The BJP MLA from Vidarbha, who hails from one of the biggest Congress families of the region, defeated the Congress candidate in the 2024 assembly polls. His father Ranjit Deshmukh was Maharashtra Congress chief, while his uncle Anil Deshmukh is currently with Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and has served as Maharashtra’s Home Minister during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Ashish Deshmukh had joined the BJP prior to the 2014 assembly polls and won from the BJP ticket, defeating Anil Deshmukh from the Katol seat in Nagpur district. He later rejoined Congress and fought against CM Devendra Fadnavis in the 2019 assembly polls, but was expelled from the party for his statements against Rahul Gandhi. It led to his return to the BJP, and in 2024, he was given a ticket from Savner – a Congress bastion since 2004.
BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh has urged the Mahayuti leadership to stop inducting opposition MLAs, saying the ruling alliance already has a comfortable majority in Maharashtra.(Twitter/@AshishRDeshmukh) 
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