Tensions ease in MahaYuti as BJP steps up coordination with allies ahead of local body elections

Mumbai, August 26 (IANS) In a bid to iron out growing differences among ruling coalition partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hosted a high-level MahaYuti coordination committee meeting two days ago at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence, Varsha.

The key meeting was attended by Chief Minister Fadnavis alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.

The move comes amid escalating internal tensions and a rejuvenated opposition, particularly following the strong youth response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent “Chhatron Ki Goonj” rally in Pune.

The MahaYuti coordination committee, led by Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, will now convene on a regular basis to ensure smoother administration and consultation on key policy decisions.

Leaders and workers of all constituent parties are instructed to completely refrain from making critical, derogatory, or contradictory remarks against alliance partners.

Minister Bawankule announced that long-pending appointments across 171 state-owned corporations and boards will be finalised within a month, operating on a proposed 49:29:23 per cent distribution ratio among the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), respectively based on their legislative strength.

This means of the total undertakings and their posts, BJP will get a lion’s share with 49 per cent representation, 29 per cent to Shiv Sena and 23 per cent to NCP. This decision is crucial for the party functionaries and the cadres of three allies were becoming restless for lack of decision despite the MahaYuti government which assumed power on December 5, 2024.

The alliance officially resolved to contest all upcoming local body elections, including Gram Panchayats, as a united front.

Minister Bawankule clearly said that a binding MahaYuti seat-sharing and election formula will apply to all constituent parties across all regions, avoiding independent or opposing candidates.

To resolve disputes over regional development allocations, three allies have finalised the funding formula for the District Planning Development Committee (DPDC) whereby 70 per cent of DPDC funds will be disbursed directly to local MLAs and 30 per cent of DPDC funds will be allocated by District Guardian Ministers among alliance partners.

Alongside, the NCP—led by Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar—has pushed for the return of the Finance portfolio to their party, a Cabinet post previously held by the late Ajit Pawar before being reassigned to the Chief Minister.

Beyond Opposition momentum, the ruling MahaYuti alliance faces significant pressure from activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who has threatened an indefinite hunger strike demanding immediate Kunbi caste certificates for eligible Marathas.

Acknowledging shared responsibility, senior coalition leaders emphasised that administrative failures cannot be pinned on individual party Ministers.

With local elections looming and public discontent growing over key social issues, the MahaYuti leadership aims to present a cohesive front moving forward.

Minister Bawankule said that to resolve disputes early and streamline strategy, the MahaYuti Coordination Committee will meet at least once every two months.

With nearly 12 political entities under the larger NDA alliance in the state, structured channels of communication will be maintained across all smaller and larger allies.

Against the backdrop of MahaYuti partners’ resolve to keep unity intact, Minister Bawankule dismissed rumours of any leadership change in Maharashtra, saying that the alliance continues to work together under the existing executive setup for expediting the development process.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)

–IANS

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