Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 5: The Shiv Sena (UBT) launched a sharp attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, claiming growing unrest and internal rivalry among alliance partners BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, despite the government’s clear majority.

In a scathing editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction alleged that all top leaders within the alliance are vying for the Chief Minister’s post, and the coalition is being torn apart by a "proxy war."

The editorial targeted the May 3 event commemorating 65 years of Maharashtra’s formation, noting that opposition leaders were excluded and even former CM Eknath Shinde skipped the function organized by the state, instead sending a representative.

“The government has a majority, but it’s not stable. Its mental health is not good,” the Thackeray camp said, accusing alliance leaders of distrusting one another. It highlighted Finance Minister Ajit Pawar’s recent disciplinary moves and CM Eknath Shinde’s discomfort over reduced influence, particularly regarding contractor control and fund allocations.

Tensions boiled over when Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat likened Ajit Pawar to the Mahabharata’s Shakuni, after funding meant for the Social Justice Department was redirected. The editorial also warned that Fadnavis might soon be branded "Duryodhana" by disgruntled allies.

Adding to the drama, Prakash Ambedkar likened Fadnavis to a python and warned Shinde and Pawar to be cautious of being politically "swallowed."

The editorial accused Shinde of not accepting his loss of the CM post, claiming he skipped Ajit Pawar’s felicitation of former Chief Ministers due to ego. “If he isn’t ready to call himself a ‘former’ CM, he should just call himself a ‘future’ one,” the editorial taunted.

It also questioned why other senior leaders like Sharad Pawar, Prithviraj Chavan, and Uddhav Thackeray didn’t attend the felicitation. “Even the recent former CM didn’t turn up—how can this government claim unity?” it asked.

In its closing remarks, the Shiv Sena (UBT) took digs at attendees Narayan Rane and Ashok Chavan—both former Chief Ministers with controversial pasts—suggesting their presence made the event “dull” and exposed the internal fractures in the Mahayuti.