By Kavita Mistry 
Mumbai: Ahead of local body polls expected later this year or early next year, the BJP and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seem to be doubling down on leaders of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena—like Sanjay Gaikwad and Sanjay Shirsat—who are seen to have embarrassed the Mahayuti government, but stopping short of taking any concrete action against them.
In doing so, the BJP is trying to stay ahead in the perception battle, not taking responsibility for the controversies stirred by its ally. The Mahayuti government comprises the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Pulling up the Shinde-led Shiv Sena also helps the BJP consolidate the Mahayuti’s Hindutva votebank in its favour.
“Prima facie, it looks like ruling BJP is trying to isolate the Shinde group, as they want to win the BMC polls on their own,” political analyst Prakash Akolkar told ThePrint.
Another political commentator, Abhay Deshpande, said Shinde’s own party leaders are stirring trouble for the Deputy CM. “I don’t think it is a political conspiracy by the BJP, per se. These leaders are themselves landing in trouble. The BJP has not taken any direct action against these leaders,” Deshpande said. “But yes, it is not a coincidence and it will reduce the bargaining power of Shinde in future,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP is worried that the recent shenanigans by Shinde Sena leaders would hurt not just the Sena’s image, but also the image of Mahayuti government.
“Such things should not have happened. We hope Shinde reins in these leaders. We cannot be seen in a bad light especially with local body polls just months away. All our achievements are undermined because of this. CM has been fair as a chief minister to order a probe if there is a doubt. He was just discharging his duties,” said a BJP leader who did not wish to be named.
Eknath Shinde met party workers on Monday and gave a strict warning to his partymen regarding their embarrassing behaviour. “In the past few days, certain incidents have taken place… People don’t point fingers at you—they point at me for what you do. They ask me: ‘What are your MLAs up to? You all are my people. We are one family. Your disrepute is my disrepute. Don’t waste your energy on unnecessary matters. Speak less, work more,” he said.
“Some ministers had to step down due to a public backlash. I don’t like to take action against members of my own family. But don’t compel me to do it. I expect discipline and accountability from each of you. I don’t behave like a boss. I don’t get angry. I act like a karyakarta (party worker)—and you should too. Don’t let your success go to your head. No matter how many positions you hold, always remember: You are first and foremost a worker,” he added.
Last week, Eknath Shinde made an unscheduled visit to Delhi leading to speculations on whether there were efforts at damage control. However, minister and Shinde’s colleague Uday Samant downplayed this visit, and suggested it was to discuss development work.
But opposition leaders hint at internal sabotage. “This could be an internal conspiracy. Why do Shinde’s leaders receive I-T notices? Ajit Pawar’s people don’t receive such notices. That’s worth analysing. It appears the BJP is trying to diminish Shinde’s influence ahead of the Mumbai civic elections,” NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar told media outside the assembly.
Also read: Solo or together? The big question for Maharashtra alliances this BMC poll season
Shinde Sena controversies
From the start of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature, MLAs and ministers from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena have stayed in focus, sparking one controversy after another.
The image of Buldhana MLA Sanjay Gaikwad in a vest and towel, forcing a canteen employee to sniff the alleged stale food and then hitting and punching him over and over till he falls down is hard to forget. And this wasn’t the first time Gaikwad was in trouble.
He had earlier announced a reward for anyone who would chop off Rahul Gandhi’s tongue.
Initially CM Fadnavis said there was no need to take action against him, but the police registered a non-cognisible complaint against him.
Meanwhile, state Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, a close Shinde associate, is facing allegations of financial irregularities. First, his son’s company was a bidder in the Hotel VITS auction, which was allegedly manipulated. The CM has initiated a probe into these allegations. Next, Shirsat received an Income Tax notice. And most recently, a video ‘showing’ him sitting next to a bag of cash in his bedroom went viral.
Another minister Sanjay Rathod was questioned by BJP senior minister Sudhir Mungantiwar over widening of drains in his constituency. But his casual answer upset Mungantiwar, who said angrily on the floor of the house: “When I spoke about drain widening, he just said that there was only a suggestion for action. This is not the kind of answer the minister should give.”
Mungantiwar did not respond to ThePrint’s calls and messages.
Like Shirsat, another leader close to Shinde, Bharat Gogawale, was in the news for carrying out what looked like occult rituals during the assembly elections.
“All this will definitely hurt Shinde because if BJP decides to go with alliance partners at some places in the local body polls, they will not be in a good position,” said Deshpande.
Akolkar says that he believes the BJP is trying to play it safe. “On one side, it is defaming Shinde and his party while on the other side watching how the Raj and Uddhav Thackeray bonhomie plays out. BJP also wants to keep the Hindutva votes just to itself, while still not targeting Ajit Pawar, because he is expected to bring in the secular votes,” he said.
“Even during 2017, when Shiv Sena and BJP fought separately, Shiv Sena won 84 while BJP won 82, so they think they can win BMC on their own. Besides, they don’t just want BMC, but also Thane and other municipal corporations. So this is definitely trying to cut down Shinde,” Akolkar said.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Fadnavis pulls up ally Shinde Sena’s MLA for thrashing canteen worker after viral video