On Saturday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat emphasized that the party should secure the important home department in the new Maharashtra government and claimed that efforts were being made to marginalize caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Speaking to PTI, Shirsat highlighted that given Shinde's positive reputation and the initiatives he introduced, he could have made a greater impact had he been given an additional two and a half years as CM.

"The home department should be with our party (Shiv Sena). It is typically handled by the deputy chief minister, and it wouldn't be appropriate for the chief minister to oversee it," stated the MLA from Aurangabad West.

Devendra Fadnavis currently holds the home portfolio in the outgoing government. Shirsat’s comments suggest growing divisions within the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, all of which performed well in the recent Maharashtra elections, securing a combined total of 230 out of 288 seats. BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41.

Shinde, who is now the caretaker chief minister, has expressed his full support for the BJP leadership's choice for the next CM and stated that he would not be an obstacle.

Party insiders noted that Shinde, who recently visited his home village in Satara, is unhappy about the situation. The Shiv Sena has demanded the home department during talks about government formation.

The BJP is seeking the chief minister’s post based on its seat count, which has caused tension with Shiv Sena, sources revealed. Shirsat acknowledged that the BJP gained from making Shinde the face of the Mahayuti government. He noted that while BJP and NCP weren’t as involved with the Maratha quota protests, it was Shinde who took the lead, eventually securing Maratha reservation, which greatly boosted his popularity.

He also pointed out that although welfare schemes existed before, Shinde revitalized them, and one such initiative, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme for women, faced opposition from NCP chief Ajit Pawar but still went ahead, making a notable impact in the elections.

Shinde’s image as a "common man" chief minister was more relatable to the public, and despite being labeled a "gaddar" (traitor), he has firmly established himself after the state elections, according to Shirsat.

"This has benefited the entire Mahayuti. He was the one who led the most rallies. Looking at this, had he been given two and a half more years, he could have contributed even more to the state," Shirsat concluded.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard