Title: Former Adversaries Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde Unite in Maharashtra Government
Date: [Current Date]
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In a surprising turn of events, former adversaries Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde have joined forces in the Maharashtra government. Shinde, the current Chief Minister, and Pawar, who was once criticized by Shinde for injustice to MLAs, have set aside their differences to form a united front.
The animosity between Shinde and Pawar dates back to the time when the Maha Vikas Akadi alliance was in power. Following the 2019 assembly elections, the three-party alliance of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress, and Congress came to power, with Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar as the Deputy Chief Minister. It was during this tenure that Eknath Shinde voiced his dissatisfaction and left the alliance.
However, in a surprising twist, Ajit Pawar has been sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister in Shinde’s cabinet, a year after Shinde’s scathing criticism. This unexpected alliance has left political observers speculating about the motives behind this move.
The recent Supreme Court judgment disqualifying 16 MLAs who broke away from the Shiv Sena further complicates the situation. According to Shiv Sena representative Sanjay Rawat, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be among those disqualified. Rawat believes that the government’s instability is a driving factor behind their need for Ajit Pawar’s support.
Senior journalist Sandeep Pradhan suggests that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strategically included Nationalist Congress legislators in the government in anticipation of Shinde’s disqualification. Pradhan believes that if Shinde is disqualified, it will leave him caught between the senior leaders of the BJP and Ajit Pawar.
Critics argue that Shinde’s power will weaken with the inclusion of Ajit Pawar and the BJP’s involvement. They also question Shinde’s decision-making authority and claim that decisions regarding the Chief Minister’s office are primarily made by Devendra Fadnavis.
The BJP’s objective appears to be winning the upcoming parliamentary elections, and they have taken steps to strengthen their position in Maharashtra. However, political observers are skeptical about the BJP’s reliance on Eknath Shinde alone and suggest that the inclusion of Nationalist Congress legislators is part of their strategy.
The possible disqualification of MLAs remains a major decision for Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, and the implications for Shinde’s future actions are yet to be seen. Veteran journalist Vijay Sormare emphasizes the BJP’s preparedness for any outcome, with a Plan ‘B’ in place to secure their interests.
With the political landscape in Maharashtra rapidly changing, it is evident that alliances and allegiances can be reshaped in the pursuit of power. The coming days will shed light on the consequences of this unexpected union between former adversaries Shinde and Pawar, and the impact it will have on Maharashtra politics moving forward.