SHINDE IN SKIRMISH FOR SPACE

Rancour peaks in Mahayuti before local body polls. Shinde Sena calls out BJP's predatory moves

- Dhaval S. Kulkarni

IT'S NO OPTICAL ILLUSION THAT THE RULING MAHAYUTI government is a triangle of discontent, with one hypotenuse or the other always sulking at its central axis, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The latest visual proof came when all ministers of the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena boycotted a state cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on November 18. In an unprecedented mode of protest, only deputy chief minister Shinde came.

There were many straws in the wind. But the last straw, as it were, came when the BJP began poaching leaders and former corporators from Shinde's Sena in his strongholds like Thane and Palghar ahead of Maharashtra's crucial local body elections.

Both districts are due for polling on December 2 in the first phase. That's besides roping in candidates from other parties who had contested against Sena ministers and leaders.