Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde uprising was not unexpected

As the dust has cleared on Maharashtra's political crisis, news from reliable sources has begun to trickle in that the Eknath Shinde storm was not a one-day event, but had been building for quite some time. The allegations from insiders got even more startling when they revealed that none other than Sharad Pawar briefed former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about the quiet before the storm.

 

The Maharashtrian strongman had informed Uddhav of intelligence reports of unrest among Sena's old guards. "Sharad Pawar had quietly advised Uddhav to bring his residence in order on multiple occasions. He had informed the Sena head about the saffron party's troubles. "The seasoned politician even requested him to appease the old guard, who were finding it difficult to work with ideologically opposed coalition partners," confessed an IPS Officer with the state intelligence service, who had routinely briefed NCP's home portfolio.

 

During the last two months, the State Intelligence Department (SID) has reported Shinde's irregular movements and secret contacts with Sena members and independent MLAs. "A daily report was created, and the state's political developments were informed to the home minister." The unrest and rebellion had been festering for quite some time and were expected to spiral out of control unless the respective party leadership intervened. "We can only provide intelligence inputs; action must be done by the political leadership," the senior official explained.

 

In support of the state intelligence department's findings, a Sena office-bearer stated that the party leadership failed to take the disgruntled MLAs' complaints seriously. "Uddhav was juggling the alliance partners and the push and pull of alliance politics, which left little time for his personal life, health, and party." He had no administrative expertise, but he ran the state effectively throughout the Covid crisis.

 

"His sole fault was trusting his senior party leaders and refusing to believe reports of probable mutiny forming within the disciplined Sena cadres," the party office-bearer said. Uddhav's refusal to take immediate corrective action on the advice of senior and experienced alliance political figures like Sharad Pawar cost the Sena chairman the CM chair and, as a result the tripartite government collapsed.

 

 

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