Shiv Sena Ministers Boycott Maharashtra Cabinet Meeting Amid Defections to BJP

In Maharashtra's political landscape, Shiv Sena ministers boycotted a cabinet meeting, protesting recent defections to BJP. The move signals a rift within the Mahayuti alliance. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP's Ajit Pawar offered differing views on the absence, highlighting political tensions ahead of civic elections.

In a noteworthy political maneuver, several Shiv Sena ministers refrained from attending the Maharashtra's weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, casting a shadow over the upcoming civic elections. Their absence is interpreted as a response to defections from Shiv Sena to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sources revealed that only Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who leads the Shiv Sena, was present at the meeting. This move arrives as the government nears the one-year mark under Devendra Fadnavis, head of the Mahayuti coalition.

Ajit Pawar, another Deputy Chief Minister and leader within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), tried minimizing the impact, suggesting the absence might be related to electoral preparations. Despite attempts at reconciliation, the defections have highlighted ongoing strategic strains within the alliance.

(With inputs from agencies.)