22 MLAs of Eknath Shinde camp to join BJP, claims Uddhav Thackeray faction

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, October 25

Are the BJP and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis preparing to topple Chief Minister Eknath Shinde? “Saamana” — the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray — certainly believes so.

According to the assumption floated by the Sena publication ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections — the first electoral test for the two warring factions — Shinde is a “temporary arrangement” and 22 of Sena MLAs who jumped ship to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government are ready to dump Shinde and join the BJP.

“Now everyone has understood that his chief ministerial uniform will be taken off anytime. The Shinde faction’s claim of success in the gram panchayat and sarpanch elections is false. At least 22 MLAs of the Shinde group are upset. The majority of these MLAs will merge themselves with the BJP,” Saamana was quoted as saying while accusing Shinde of causing “great damage” to himself and Maharashtra “for which the people of the state will never forgive him”.

“The BJP will continue to use Shinde for its benefit,” it stated, quoting a BJP leader who claimed “all decisions are taken by Fadnavis while Shinde just announces them”.

It also cited the BJP’s decision to withdraw its candidate from Andheri (East) to buttress the claim that Shinde can lose his job anytime.

In a rare political move, the BJP recently withdrew its candidate Murji Patel from the Andheri (East) bypoll, paving the way for Uddhav Thackeray-led Rutuja Latke (wife of late Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Latke) to win unopposed.

While the Maharashtra BJP attributed the decision to the state’s political culture whereby parties refrain from fielding a candidate if a relative of an MLA or an MP who has passed away contests the bypoll, the Uddhav side claimed the BJP would have been be “so badly trounced” that the candidate would have “lost the deposit”. Interestingly, Rutuja was able to file nomination only after a court’s intervention.

Andheri (East) would certainly have tested the electoral strength of the two sides for the first time since the collapse of the Uddhav’s government, an onus which now shifts to the BMC elections.

According to experts, recent events such as the tussle over the Shivaji Park venue for Dasehra rally, BJP’s Dahi Handi celebrations, the high drama over the Andheri (East) candidate, the Saamana’s claim and Shinde and Fadnavis warming towards Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) point towards the importance of the BMC polls for all players.

It will be the first test of the government headed by Shinde and Fadnavis, who last week had triggered fresh speculations about a possible political realignment when they participated in a Diwali event organised by the MNS.

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra minister Sanjay Deshmukh also rejoined the Uddhav side along with another Thane leader.

High-stakes BMC elections

• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections will be the first test of the government headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis
• “The BJP will continue to use Shinde for its benefit,” Saamana stated, quoting a BJP leader who claimed “all decisions are taken by Fadnavis while Shinde just announces them”