Mahayuti Rift Widens As Sena Ministers Boycott Cabinet, Fadnavis Steps In To Defuse Crisis

Last Updated:November 19, 2025, 09:08 IST

Apart from BJP’s decision to accommodate leaders who had contested against Sena candidates, the ministers were also distressed over alleged imbalance in fund allocation

The move immediately triggered speculation that the BJP-Shiv Sena friction, simmering over the past few weeks, had finally reached a tipping point. (PTI)

Tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance escalated on Tuesday after Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) ministers skipped the state cabinet meeting in Mumbai. Their boycott came just hours after the BJP inducted two leaders who had contested against Sena MLAs in the last assembly elections—Advait Hire, who ran against minister Dada Bhuse, and Raju Khare, who contested against Sanjay Shirsat. The move immediately triggered speculation that the BJP-Shiv Sena friction, simmering over the past few weeks, had finally reached a tipping point.

However, by evening, Sena leader and minister Pratap Sarnaik attempted to calm the storm, describing the dispute as a “family disagreement" that had been communicated to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Eknath Shinde.

According to sources, Sena ministers were upset on multiple fronts. Apart from BJP’s decision to accommodate leaders who had contested against Sena candidates, the ministers were also distressed over alleged imbalance in fund allocation and other administrative issues. Their absence from the cabinet meeting was widely seen as a public expression of the growing discontent.

Speaking after a meeting with Fadnavis and Shinde, Sarnaik said the ministers had simply voiced long-pending concerns. “There are arguments in every family. Sometimes you just need to express what’s on your mind. We conveyed our feelings to the chief minister," he said, stressing that the resentment was linked to the ongoing local body elections and the pattern of political inductions.

Sarnaik revealed that the three ruling partners—BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar)—had now agreed on a crucial rule: no party will induct leaders, MLAs, corporators, or office-bearers from the other allies. This, he said, would take effect “from tomorrow [Wednesday]".

Sarnaik also played down the importance of the new entrants. Referring to Advait Hire, he remarked, “Who is Advait Hire? There are many such ‘heroes’ roaming around who keep shifting sides," subtly indicating that such inductions held little political weight for Sena.

Sarnaik added that the chief minister assured that he would personally speak to minister Ravindra Chavan, one of the key figures linked to recent political movements. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde will discuss the concerns directly with his ministers. With local body elections approaching, the Mahayuti leadership appears keen to prevent further cracks from widening. Whether this new “no poaching pact" stabilises the alliance—or merely postpones deeper tensions—remains to be seen.

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