In the run-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is set to field its core team of loyalists. He will ensure that the first list of candidates comprises those 40 MLAs who stood by him when he defected and split the party last year, sources said.
These MLAs were instrumental in Shinde’s rise to power, leading the rebellion that ultimately ousted the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. As the leader of the Mahayuti alliance that also has the BJP, he has prioritised loyalty over any other criterion in his first list.
According to sources close to the party leadership, the first batch of tickets will be offered to the 40 MLAs who aligned with him from the moment he broke away from Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. They are regarded as the backbone of the new Sena, forming the core team that propelled him into the Chief Minister’s office.
While Shinde’s confidence in his loyalists is high, there is also speculation over how the other MLAs in his camp will respond to the candidate selection process, especially those who might be left out. Over the past year, his camp has swelled to more than 50 MLAs, many of whom jumped ship from Uddhav’s faction in the aftermath of the rebellion.
As a result, there are questions about whether all will be accommodated. Nevertheless, the Sena remains confident that none of its MLAs will switch back even if some of them do not receive tickets this election.
Party sources said the chief minister has reassured his camp that internal discussions are on to allocate suitable roles and responsibilities for each MLA who helped shape the party’s current position. The strategy is to ensure that those left out of the electoral contest will not feel sidelined and still play a pivotal role in party affairs.
The BJP, too, has placed significant faith in his ability to keep his house in order. The alliance between the BJP and Sena is banking on a united front to counter the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Congress.
The political dynamics in Maharashtra remain fluid, with seat-sharing negotiations between Sena and BJP ongoing. But, the decision to prioritise these 40 MLAs reflects the critical importance of rewarding loyalty within the Shinde camp.
Now, the challenge for him is to navigate the internal discontent that might arise among the newer entrants if they do not receive tickets. The leadership, however, appears to be confident that its communication strategy as well as the promise of future rewards will prevent any significant fallout.
The CM’s insistence on reinforcing loyalty through the candidate selection process highlights the importance of cohesion in his party. With the opposition actively working to regain lost ground, it is crucial for him to keep his camp intact and free of cracks. Hence, the focus remains on consolidating the gains achieved through last year’s rebellion and presenting a formidable force against Thackeray’s faction.
In a broader sense, the upcoming polls will be a litmus test for the Shiv Sena, not only in terms of electoral success but also in maintaining internal stability so as to ensure it does not fall prey to the kind of defection that initially propelled Shinde to power.
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