Maharashtra politics: Is Eknath Shinde sulking or on his way out?

While all eyes were on the drama unfolding at Ajit Pawar's meeting at Bandra on Wednesday morning, and his uncle, NCP chief Sharad Pawar's response to it, the political grapevine in Maharashtra started lighting up with buzz about the position of CM Eknath Shinde. First, it was Shiv Sena's maverick rabble-rouser Sanjay Raut, who set the cat among the pigeons with his remark that the top post in the state will see a change of guard.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may be replaced in the coming days in the wake of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joining the National Democratic Alliance government," Raut told reporters on Wednesday.

Shirsat adds fuel to fire

Adding fuel to the fire, Shinde Sena's spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat admitted that his colleagues are in a bit of a quandary, as opposition to the power wielded by Ajit and his coterie was one of the main reasons they dumped Uddhav Thackeray. Shirsat said Ajit's entry into the government will also mean that "some of our
leaders will not get their desired positions".

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde welcomes President Droupadi Murmu, at the airport in Nagpur, on Tuesday. Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais is also present. Pic/PTI

"In politics, when our rival gang wants to join us, we have to take them in and that is what the BJP did," he said. "After the NCP joined us, people in our group were upset because some of our leaders will not get their desired position. It is not true that all our leaders are happy with the NCP joining us," he said.

Crucially, Shirsat said they have informed Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis "and they will have to resolve this issue". "We were always against the NCP... Udhhav Thackeray as the CM was used by Sharad Pawar. Eknath Shinde will decide the course of action now."

As for the CM himself, he received President Draupadi Murmu in Nagpur on her first state visit as per protocol. But he soon broke protocol and returned to Mumbai on Tuesday night, instead of staying with the President for her events.

Portfolio game

Sources told mid-day that it is still not clear whether this is a pressure tactic to ensure his men get good portfolios, or whether he could quit as CM. Maharashtra's limit for cabinet spots is 43, 29 of which have been filled so far - 10 of Shinde's men, 10 of BJP ministers, and the new injection of 9 breakaway NCP MLAs. This leaves just 14 more posts vacant, which sources said the Shinde loyalists are eyeing.

And the biggest red flag was Ajit Pawar making no bones about his ambition to become CM. "I want to become Maharashtra chief minister to implement certain plans I have for people's welfare," he said at the Bandra meeting.

Shinde assures his MLAs

On Wednesday night, Shinde tried convincing his MLAs that there would be no change in the CM's office "because we will continue to head the government till 2024 Assembly elections". He said he was there to get as much for the legislators and the party's influence areas so that they convince the people to vote for the Shiv Sena. He told the MLAs that their effort should be to win as many seats as possible next year.

Reacting to buzz of Shinde's exit, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the rumour mongers were doing overtime to confuse the people. "No matter what, Shinde will continue as the CM. We will fight the next elections under his leadership," he said.

Tweet talk

Subramanian Swamy, BJP leader @Swamy39:
I am in Mumbai and I hear the Shiv Sena rebels may return to Uddhav Thakre , because of disgust at Modi wooing NCP and sidelining them after using them earlier