Rising Mahayuti Strains as Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde Miss Each Other’s Major Events

Divisions within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance appear to be widening, as senior leaders from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) consistently steer clear of each other’s public events. The absence of both groups at each other’s gatherings over the weekend has rekindled discussions of an escalating cold war.

On Saturday, May 3, the NCP organized a prominent felicitation ceremony in Mumbai to recognize former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra. Unexpectedly, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his party members completely avoided the event.

Just a day prior, Ajit Pawar and his party ministers refrained from attending the Mahabaleshwar Tourism Festival hosted by Shiv Sena leader and Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai.
While official justifications are being offered — including Shinde’s trip to his native Daregaon — the political implications are clear. NCP ministers from the Satara area, such as Makrand Patil and Indranil Naik, also missed the tourism event, despite being invited. This back-and-forth absence highlights ongoing tensions between the two parties surrounding key matters.

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Disputes over the Guardian Minister role in Raigad, delays in fund approvals, and files reportedly being stalled by the Finance Department — led by Ajit Pawar — have all exacerbated the rift. To make matters worse, NCP MP Aditi Tatkare raised the national flag in Raigad on May 1, an act that seemingly irked the Shinde faction. The Guardian Minister position for Raigad is a sensitive subject, with both factions vying for control.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat has overtly criticized Ajit Pawar regarding delayed fund distributions, signaling that the discord is now public.

Notably, the BJP — the largest party in the Mahayuti alliance — has remained quiet and aloof. There seems to be no concerted effort from BJP leaders to mediate or alleviate the mounting tensions between their allies.

Political analysts suggest that although the Mahayuti presents a cohesive front on paper, internal dynamics are anything but smooth. The apparent lack of coordination and increasing mistrust between the NCP and Shiv Sena factions could prove challenging, especially with local body and Assembly elections on the horizon.

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As both factions continue to avoid each other, the message is unmistakable — the alliance may seem stable officially, but the relationships are cooling significantly.