A seemingly simple gesture—a formal handshake—between Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) MP Shrikant Shinde has triggered speculation of an early reconciliation bid between the two major ruling allies.
The exchange took place at a public event in Kalyan, Thane district, on Saturday.
Details of the Exchange
- Initiation: Maharashtra BJP President Ravindra Chavan was observed initiating the handshake.
- Response: Shrikant Shinde, who is the son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, responded positively to the gesture.
- Interaction: Despite the positive physical exchange, Shrikant Shinde reportedly did not speak to the BJP leader during the event.
Political observers view this interaction as a potential first step by both camps to mend the strained relationship that was severely tested during the recent local body polls, which concluded on December 2.
Weeks of Hostility and Escalation
The alliance had been marked by escalating hostility in the run-up to the municipal council elections:
- Open Criticism: Leaders and district-level workers from both the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP openly criticized one another.
- Organizational Conflict: Tensions rose significantly after BJP leaders inducted several local Shiv Sena functionaries in Kalyan. This was interpreted by the Shinde camp as a direct attempt to weaken the Shiv Sena’s organizational strength in a key stronghold.
- Direct Accusation: The dispute deepened when Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane publicly accused BJP’s Chavan of trying to distribute money to influence voters in Sindhudurg during the elections. Rane specifically stated he had no disagreement with any BJP leader except Chavan, making it a rare direct attack from within the ruling coalition.
- Cabinet Strain: The friction even surfaced within the cabinet, with state minister Sanjay Shirsat remarking that “Chavan is acting on his own. Every action has a reaction.”
Following the conclusion of the polling on December 2, however, Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane adopted a softer tone, hinting that the leadership might be actively working towards a patch-up, a sentiment potentially validated by the handshake observed in Kalyan.