Two months after the Mahayuti coalition returned to power in Maharashtra, cracks have begun to appear within the front with BJP and Shiv Sena openly warring on different issues, including the appointment of guardian ministers.
The latest in the series of disagreements between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde is the latter's move to quash the decision taken by the previous Eknath Shinde government.
One of the first decisions reportedly taken by Fadnavis after he took office was to order a probe into the transport department’s plan to take 1,310 public transport buses on rent from private players. The Shinde government had allotted Rs 2,000 crore for the decision. However, after reports emerged that the tender process was flawed, Fadnavis moved to cancel the contract.
A probe report revealed that officials had favoured specific private players from whom they rented out buses, The New Indian Express reported.
Not just in transport, Fadnavis has reportedly ordered an inquiry into the purchase of 900 ambulances and medical equipment worth Rs 12,000 crore. In the Shinde government, the health department was handled by Shiv Sena MLA Tanaji Sawant, who fell out of favour with the BJP. After allegations surfaced that tender conditions were manipulated in favour of some contractors and suppliers, which caused the project cost to increase from Rs 9,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore, Fadnavis ordered an inquiry into the previous government's decision to purchase uniforms for school students.
This has triggered speculations that Fadnavis is now sidelining Eknath Shinde in favour of Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant, who is now in Davos with Fadnavis. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut fanned these rumours stating that Samant may break away from the Shiv Sena with at least 20 of its MLAs. He called the statement "political childishness".
There were also rumours that Shinde, upset over the allotment of the Guardian Minister post, went to Satara sulking. Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale rubbished the claims of Shinde being upset.