Meta Description: A brewing power tussle between CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has exposed deep cracks in Maharashtra's Mahayuti government. With BJP's dominance straining alliances and national kingmakers Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu watching closely, India's political landscape braces for a seismic shift.
The early morning political calm in Maharashtra has been shattered. What began as a bureaucratic disagreement over Marathi language policy has swiftly escalated into a full-blown confrontation between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde . The ruling Mahayuti alliance is exhibiting signs of severe strain, with cracks widening between the BJP and its key regional partners .
As the BJP's dominance grows increasingly assertive, allies feel stifled, and the NDA's structural stability is being tested. With national satraps like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu playing their cards close to their chests, the political theatre unfolding in Maharashtra has captured the nation's attention.
The Marathi Flashpoint: A Clash of Titans
The immediate trigger for the current crisis was the government's handling of the Marathi language requirement for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had championed strict enforcement of the 1989 rule, threatening license suspensions for non-Marathi speakers . However, CM Fadnavis unilaterally overruled his cabinet colleague, granting drivers a year-long reprieve.
This was not merely a policy shift but a calculated political move. The decision came just a day after Deputy CM Eknath Shinde distributed certificates to 20,000 drivers in Borivali who had completed Marathi training—a campaign aimed at projecting the Sena as the champion of the "Marathi manoos" . Fadnavis's intervention effectively stole Shinde's thunder, demonstrating who holds the ultimate authority in the government .
Observers note that the CM's decision also served to appease North Indian voters, particularly with the Uttar Pradesh elections approaching, while simultaneously asserting dominance over his coalition partner . The Shiv Sena, which has historically built its identity around Marathi pride, found itself publicly undermined . A senior Sena leader lamented, "We have to fight back to remain relevant. Or else the BJP will swallow us" .
The immediate trigger for the current crisis was the government's handling of the Marathi language requirement for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had championed strict enforcement of the 1989 rule, threatening license suspensions for non-Marathi speakers . However, CM Fadnavis unilaterally overruled his cabinet colleague, granting drivers a year-long reprieve.
This was not merely a policy shift but a calculated political move. The decision came just a day after Deputy CM Eknath Shinde distributed certificates to 20,000 drivers in Borivali who had completed Marathi training—a campaign aimed at projecting the Sena as the champion of the "Marathi manoos" . Fadnavis's intervention effectively stole Shinde's thunder, demonstrating who holds the ultimate authority in the government .
Observers note that the CM's decision also served to appease North Indian voters, particularly with the Uttar Pradesh elections approaching, while simultaneously asserting dominance over his coalition partner . The Shiv Sena, which has historically built its identity around Marathi pride, found itself publicly undermined . A senior Sena leader lamented, "We have to fight back to remain relevant. Or else the BJP will swallow us" .
The "Veto" Rule: A Constitutional Power Play
Beyond the language dispute, a deeper constitutional controversy is fueling the distrust. Reports highlight that the Fadnavis government has implemented new Government Rules of Business, 2026, granting the Chief Minister a "veto" over any minister's decision . Under Rule 13(5), Fadnavis can now intervene in any department's functioning, subject only to recording the reasons in writing.
Critics argue this contravenes the principle of collective responsibility enshrined in Article 164(2) of the Constitution. By concentrating power in the CM's office, the rule effectively reduces allied ministers (including Shinde and Sunetra Pawar) to mere subordinates .
This legal muscle-flexing has not gone unnoticed. The NCP, another key ally, is already demanding that Fadnavis relinquish the Finance portfolio—which he retained following the demise of Ajit Pawar—to Sunetra Pawar . The fact that the CM has held onto this crucial ministry has sparked deep resentment, with NCP MLC Amol Mitkari publicly warning that alliances survive on mutual trust, not broken promises .
Beyond the language dispute, a deeper constitutional controversy is fueling the distrust. Reports highlight that the Fadnavis government has implemented new Government Rules of Business, 2026, granting the Chief Minister a "veto" over any minister's decision . Under Rule 13(5), Fadnavis can now intervene in any department's functioning, subject only to recording the reasons in writing.
Critics argue this contravenes the principle of collective responsibility enshrined in Article 164(2) of the Constitution. By concentrating power in the CM's office, the rule effectively reduces allied ministers (including Shinde and Sunetra Pawar) to mere subordinates .
This legal muscle-flexing has not gone unnoticed. The NCP, another key ally, is already demanding that Fadnavis relinquish the Finance portfolio—which he retained following the demise of Ajit Pawar—to Sunetra Pawar . The fact that the CM has held onto this crucial ministry has sparked deep resentment, with NCP MLC Amol Mitkari publicly warning that alliances survive on mutual trust, not broken promises .
Operation Tiger and the "Slow Poison"
The BJP’s expansionist strategy is not limited to constitutional rules. Shiv Sena leaders have accused the BJP of injecting a "slow poison" into their party . Senior leader Abdul Sattar warned that the Mahayuti may not survive the 2029 elections if the BJP continues to absorb local Sena opponents at the district level .
The BJP’s alleged "Operation Tiger" has already seen six of Uddhav Thackeray's nine Lok Sabha MPs defect to the Shinde camp, and there are claims that 14 more MLAs are set to follow . The merger provision in the anti-defection law is being weaponized to consolidate NDA numbers in Parliament . The influx of breakaway MPs has already reshaped the internal balance of the NDA, potentially reducing the relative strength of TDP and JD(U) .
This relentless absorption has left Shinde in a precarious position. While he is the deputy CM, his faction faces the existential threat of being entirely subsumed by the BJP. In a bid to remain relevant, he has been flying to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, though the results have been mixed .
The BJP’s expansionist strategy is not limited to constitutional rules. Shiv Sena leaders have accused the BJP of injecting a "slow poison" into their party . Senior leader Abdul Sattar warned that the Mahayuti may not survive the 2029 elections if the BJP continues to absorb local Sena opponents at the district level .
The BJP’s alleged "Operation Tiger" has already seen six of Uddhav Thackeray's nine Lok Sabha MPs defect to the Shinde camp, and there are claims that 14 more MLAs are set to follow . The merger provision in the anti-defection law is being weaponized to consolidate NDA numbers in Parliament . The influx of breakaway MPs has already reshaped the internal balance of the NDA, potentially reducing the relative strength of TDP and JD(U) .
This relentless absorption has left Shinde in a precarious position. While he is the deputy CM, his faction faces the existential threat of being entirely subsumed by the BJP. In a bid to remain relevant, he has been flying to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, though the results have been mixed .
The National Context: Naidu and Nitish Active
While the drama unfolds in Mumbai, the national alliance leaders are watching with keen interest. Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, both crucial NDA kingmakers, are acutely aware of the implications of the BJP's centralizing tendencies.
The political scenario in Bihar recently demonstrated the BJP's willingness to change the rules of the game. With Nitish Kumar stepping down as Chief Minister to head to the Rajya Sabha, the BJP is poised to install its own CM in Bihar for the first time . While the transition was politically managed, it signals a clear shift toward BJP dominance.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore recently alleged that Amit Shah is reminding every ally "who the real boss is," drawing parallels between the situation in Bihar and what is happening in Maharashtra . He claimed the BJP uses "power and pressure" to control allies, sending a clear message that "mandates can be rewritten and chairs can change hands" .
This uneasy climate has led to speculation that regional parties might seek to consolidate their strength to counter the BJP's hegemony .
While the drama unfolds in Mumbai, the national alliance leaders are watching with keen interest. Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, both crucial NDA kingmakers, are acutely aware of the implications of the BJP's centralizing tendencies.
The political scenario in Bihar recently demonstrated the BJP's willingness to change the rules of the game. With Nitish Kumar stepping down as Chief Minister to head to the Rajya Sabha, the BJP is poised to install its own CM in Bihar for the first time . While the transition was politically managed, it signals a clear shift toward BJP dominance.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore recently alleged that Amit Shah is reminding every ally "who the real boss is," drawing parallels between the situation in Bihar and what is happening in Maharashtra . He claimed the BJP uses "power and pressure" to control allies, sending a clear message that "mandates can be rewritten and chairs can change hands" .
This uneasy climate has led to speculation that regional parties might seek to consolidate their strength to counter the BJP's hegemony .
What Lies Ahead?
As the monsoon session approaches, the NDA's numbers in Parliament are swelling due to defections . This might help the government pass major legislations like delimitation and "One Nation, One Election" . However, this parliamentary strength belies the growing chasm within the alliance.
The Shiv Sena and NCP are scrambling to retain their distinct identities. Sena ministers have expressed outrage at being "humiliated," while NCP insiders are debating whether to resist a merger with the BJP . The fear is that the BJP is orchestrating a single-party dominance model, reducing allies to a permanent secondary status.
For now, the Fadnavis-Shinde tussle is far from resolved. The new Rules of Business, the finance portfolio, and the Marathi issue are mere symptoms of a deeper malaise: the BJP's aggressive expansion and its allies' desperate fight for survival. India’s attention is fixed on Maharashtra, and the outcome of this power struggle will likely set the tone for the 2029 general elections.
As the monsoon session approaches, the NDA's numbers in Parliament are swelling due to defections . This might help the government pass major legislations like delimitation and "One Nation, One Election" . However, this parliamentary strength belies the growing chasm within the alliance.
The Shiv Sena and NCP are scrambling to retain their distinct identities. Sena ministers have expressed outrage at being "humiliated," while NCP insiders are debating whether to resist a merger with the BJP . The fear is that the BJP is orchestrating a single-party dominance model, reducing allies to a permanent secondary status.
For now, the Fadnavis-Shinde tussle is far from resolved. The new Rules of Business, the finance portfolio, and the Marathi issue are mere symptoms of a deeper malaise: the BJP's aggressive expansion and its allies' desperate fight for survival. India’s attention is fixed on Maharashtra, and the outcome of this power struggle will likely set the tone for the 2029 general elections.
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