Maharashtra Government’s Guardian Minister Assignments Spark Resentment in Shiv Sena

Mumbai, 21st January 2025: Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fostering a parallel leadership within the Shiv Sena through Industries Minister Uday Samant. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut supported the claim, asserting that Samant has the backing of 20 Shiv Sena MLAs.

Samant, known for his strong ties with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, dismissed these allegations as unfounded.

The accusations come amid rising tensions within the Shiv Sena. On Saturday, the Maharashtra government unveiled its district guardian minister assignments, excluding senior Shiv Sena ministers Dada Bhuse and Bharat Gogawale. This decision reportedly led to resentment, with Gogawale expressing open dissatisfaction. Shortly afterwards, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited his hometown in Dare, Satara, sparking speculation about his discontent with the move.

This is not the first instance of Shinde reacting in this manner. In December, during negotiations over cabinet portfolios, he made an unannounced trip to his village, reportedly upset over being denied the home portfolio. The matter was eventually resolved when the BJP conceded the position.

Commenting on the developments, Wadettiwar stated, “They sidelined Uddhavji (Thackeray) to promote Shinde, and now they’re attempting to replace Shinde with a new ‘Uday.’” He questioned the BJP’s continued reliance on Shinde after the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a significant defeat in the state assembly elections.

Raut added that the BJP is losing patience with Shinde’s frequent complaints and may replace him with Samant. He alleged that the BJP had previously considered elevating Samant when Shinde hesitated to accept the deputy chief minister position.

From Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum with Fadnavis, Samant issued a firm rebuttal. In a video statement, he called the allegations politically immature. “Eknath Shinde saheb’s leadership was instrumental in my becoming industries minister twice. I deeply value his role in shaping my career. Our bond transcends politics, and efforts to create a rift will not succeed,” he said.

Samant accused Wadettiwar of attempting to sow division, saying, “Wadettiwar ji, stop your conspiracies. Your claims are baseless, and I strongly condemn them.” He further alleged that Wadettiwar had explored joining the BJP and held meetings with Fadnavis.

Samant’s political journey has been marked by rapid growth over two decades. Starting as an NCP MLA, he served as a junior minister under Sharad Pawar to bolster the party’s influence in Konkan. Ahead of the 2014 elections, he joined the Shiv Sena, where he quickly rose through the ranks. Under Uddhav Thackeray, he became deputy leader and later served as a minister in the MVA government.

During Shinde’s rebellion, Samant initially supported Thackeray but later joined Shinde’s camp, securing his place in the Mahayuti government. His brother, Kiran Samant, also emerged as a political force, defeating veteran Sena leader Rajan Salvi in Rajapur in the recent elections.