The Congress party is intensifying its efforts to demoralize Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and create divisions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, according to political leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena. Congress President Nana Patole has alleged that the BJP is trying to keep Shinde under control, claiming that while the BJP presents Shinde as the Chief Minister, it is actually Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis who holds the real power.
Patole pointed out that although BJP posters feature the logos of all three parties in the alliance, only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Fadnavis are prominently displayed, with Shinde’s image barely visible. This, Patole argued, reflects the true dynamics within the alliance.
The latest controversy centers around the BJP’s election posters for the upcoming Assembly elections, where Shinde’s photo appears in a small, passport-sized format despite the party’s claims that it is contesting under his leadership. The omission of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s photo from earlier posters had also sparked public debate, and now the minimization of Shinde’s image has raised new questions about the BJP’s internal power structure.
A senior BJP leader, speaking to Afternoon Voice, dismissed the Congress’s criticisms, stating, “This is exactly what Congress has been doing all along—trying to sow division and create rifts, both within the nation and political parties. These comments will have no impact on our alliance.”
Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam also responded to Congress’s allegations, asserting, “We are fighting this election under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. All decisions, from seat sharing to strategy, have been made under his guidance. Congress has a habit of creating controversy, but it doesn’t affect us.”
As the election approaches, tensions within the Mahayuti alliance and the Congress’s attempts to exploit them remain a point of contention in the state’s political discourse.
