MLC Poll Setback Sparks Tensions in Mahayuti

The Maharashtra Legislative Council election results have triggered tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, with the BJP accusing the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena of failing to support its allies. BJP chief spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged that the Shiv Sena did not uphold coalition principles in Pune and Nagpur and weakened the alliance’s prospects. He cited the party’s last-minute support for an independent candidate in the Pune Teachers’ constituency and Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar’s campaign against the NCP candidate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, however, maintained that his party had always respected alliance commitments and described the contests in places such as Pune as friendly electoral battles. Sattar, meanwhile, said the BJP should decide whether it wanted to continue its alliance with the Shiv Sena.

Sattar pointed out that the BJP has 132 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly and needs the support of its allies to keep the government in power. He urged the BJP to follow the Bihar model and make Shinde Chief Minister again, referring to the continuation of Nitish Kumar as Bihar Chief Minister despite the JD(U) having fewer seats than the BJP. Sattar also openly backed the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) candidate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, contributing to the defeat of the ruling NCP candidate Satish Chavan. Separately, the Darbhanga Graduates’ MLC seat in Bihar became a subject of competing claims, with the BJP declaring sitting MLC Sarvesh Kumar the winner and the RJD claiming victory for its candidate Anil Kumar Jha. The official result was awaited at the time of the supplied report.