‘Going against coalition dharma’: Shinde meets Shah, Nadda in Delhi; raises concern over BJP poaching Sena leaders

Highly placed sources in the Shiv Sena said, “Shinde raised concerns over state BJP president Ravindra Chavan’s move to induct Sena’s local leaders into BJP ahead of the local body elections.” It was also learned that Shinde also apprised BJP’s central leadership of the concerns within his party and disappointment among his ministers over the state BJP’s drive to induct Sena local leaders.

Neither Shiv Sena nor BJP issued any official statement after the meeting in New Delhi.

Shinde’s meeting with Shah comes in the wake of growing conflict within the three-party coalition. On Tuesday, Shiv Sena ministers boycotted the cabinet meeting held in Mantralaya in Mumbai, though Shinde himself was present at the cabinet meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. On Wednesday, Shinde skipped a function chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Mumbai. Later, Shiv Sena ministers on Tuesday held a meeting with Fadnavis to complain against the BJP’s decision to induct local Shiv Sena leaders from Kalyan and Dombivli. They said it amounted to breaking the coalition dharma. As Kalyan-Dombivli is represented by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Eknath Shinde.

Following the boycott by Sena ministers, the chief minister reminded them that it was Shiv Sena that had first started poaching BJP leaders/workers from Ulhasnagar and other places.

He said, “ Everybody should maintain the coalition norms and not take away leaders from allies.”

A senior BJP functionary, commenting on the developments, said, “What exactly transpired between Shah, Nadda and Shinde is not known and cannot be commented upon. But the BJP believes that coalition dharma should be applicable to one and all.”

On Shinde going with a complaint against state BJP leaders to Delhi, he said, “As an alliance partner, he has the right to meet central BJP leaders. Our leaders patiently hear alliance partners, and based on facts, take a stand.”

It was learned that during the meeting, Shinde stressed how BJP’s poaching would create a division, which may not be good in the local bodies polls.