A fresh controversy surfaced within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance on Tuesday after Shiv Sena ministers expressed displeasure over Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar allegedly not being invited to the inauguration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue at the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
According to sources, the issue was raised during a state cabinet meeting, where several Shiv Sena ministers questioned the omission of the two deputy chief ministers from the official event.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly informed the cabinet that he had already ordered an inquiry into the matter after becoming aware of the lapse.
The statue was unveiled by Fadnavis on June 6, coinciding with the 352nd anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation in 1674.
Sources said Shiv Sena ministers Sanjay Shirsat, Shambhuraj Desai and Pratap Sarnaik raised the issue at the very beginning of the cabinet meeting and sought an explanation regarding the absence of invitations to Shinde and Pawar.
Responding to their concerns, Fadnavis reportedly said he realised that neither of the deputy chief ministers had been invited only after arriving at the venue and subsequently directed officials to investigate how the omission occurred.
The incident has sparked discussion within political circles, particularly because both Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Sunetra Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party are key constituents of the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.
While the government has not officially commented on the findings of the inquiry, the episode has highlighted sensitivities within the ruling alliance over protocol and representation at high-profile state events.
The outcome of the inquiry is now expected to determine whether the omission was an administrative oversight or a more significant lapse in coordination among government departments.
