Rift in Mahayuti behind Shinde-Shah meetings?

Deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde's back-to-back meetings with union home minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during his Maharashtra visit have raised several eyebrows in political circles.

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI:

Shinde reportedly met Shah to complain about how he and his party were being sidelined by leaders of two other parties in the Mahayuti government—the BJP and the NCP—although he had played a key role in the alliance's victory in the assembly polls held in November last year.

The meeting between the duo on Sunday morning was completely unscheduled and led to a delay in Shah's departure from Mumbai, said a BJP leader.

"Shinde held a closed-door meeting with Shah even on Friday, immediately after his arrival, apart from meeting him along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday," the BJP leader told Hindustan Times.

In the meetings, Shinde reportedly raised concerns about the brewing rift between him, Fadnavis and Pawar. The Shiv Sena is upset over delays in deciding the guardian ministership of Raigad and Nashik, interference by the chief minister's office in decisions and policies relating to portfolios held by the party and problems in the release of funds.