Maharashtra’s ruling allies, Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party, have agreed to jointly contest all future elections in the state, including local bodies, assembly, and parliament, as part of a package deal. This was announced by Shiv Sena President and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after a late-night meeting with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday.
Shinde added that the alliance had been going strong for 11 months and would continue to work towards making Maharashtra the top state in the country across all fields. The meeting also covered other issues such as agriculture, cooperation, women empowerment, and farmers’ welfare.
This visit takes place ahead of the first anniversary of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance which came to power on June 30, 2022, after toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by former CM Uddhav Thackeray. The decision to hold the alliance was made against the backdrop of the upcoming civic polls in the state.
The joint alliance between the Shiv Sena and BJP was formed in June last year after months of political drama. During the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019, Shiv Sena won 56 seats, BJP came second with 105 seats, and the Congress-NCP alliance managed to secure 98 seats.
However, Shiv Sena and BJP could not agree on a power-sharing arrangement, and Shiv Sena ultimately formed a government with the support of the Congress and NCP, causing a political uproar. The BJP has since been waiting for an opportunity to rejoin forces with Shiv Sena. With elections due in several states in the coming months, this package deal could be an indication of a promising future for the two parties in Maharashtra.
