National News Politics

No Cabinet Ministry For Shinde-Led Shiv Sena In Modi 3.0?

In a surprising development, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra along with the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, did not receive any cabinet positions in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s newly formed government. This exclusion has sparked a wave of speculation and concern within the party, potentially straining the alliance dynamics in Maharashtra.

 

Despite this significant political alliance at the state level, the absence of any ministerial berths for the Shinde faction in the Union Cabinet has raised eyebrows. This move could suggest doubts about the BJP’s long-term strategy and approach to managing alliances ahead of upcoming state and general elections.

Shrirang Barne, Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction MP, voiced disappointment over the party’s exclusion from the newly formed Narendra Modi-led government’s Cabinet, alleging partiality.

 

He pointed out that although Shiv Sena won seven seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra out of 15, other parties with fewer seats were granted Cabinet positions.

 

Barne commented, “We expected Shiv Sena to get a Cabinet ministry, especially since parties with fewer seats, like HD Kumaraswamy’s JD(S) with two seats, received two berths, and Jitan Ram Manjhi, with one seat from Bihar, also got a Cabinet berth.”

 

Internally, however, there is a sense of unease within the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Party insiders believe that the lack of a cabinet position might undermine the faction’s standing and influence both within the state and at the national level. Some members have expressed their frustration, but also noted that they still support PM Modi’s government unconditionally. The nation has asked and needs the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji. There’s no bargaining or negotiation for power.

 

Ajit Pawar’s NCP, another important ally in the state, has been closely watching these developments. Despite their modest performance in the recent elections, the NCP managed to secure just one position. However, the situation with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena adds complexity to the alliance dynamics.

 

Before the split between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena was a unified party. In 2014, during Modi’s first term, Shiv Sena’s Anant Geete was chosen for a cabinet ministry and served as the Union Cabinet Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises. Again in 2019, another leader from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Arvind Sawant, was given the same cabinet position of Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises.

 

Considering these past inclusions, my question is: does the BJP and Modi not seem to consider Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena valuable or worthy enough to provide even a single cabinet ministry, even after securing several seats in Maharashtra and being the third-largest party in the NDA in terms of seats?

 

As the state heads towards the assembly elections later this year, the dynamics within the ruling coalition will be critical. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena will need to navigate its relationship with the BJP carefully, balancing its regional aspirations with the expectations of its cadre and supporters.

 

For now, the focus remains on maintaining a united front, but the exclusion from the Union Cabinet has undoubtedly introduced an element of uncertainty within the alliance. How this will play out in the coming months remains to be seen as all eyes turn to the political maneuvers in Maharashtra.

 

The decision to exclude the Shinde-led Shiv Sena from the Union Cabinet marks a significant development in Maharashtra’s political landscape, with potential ramifications for the alliance dynamics and future electoral strategies.

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