Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Rules Out New Allies for Mahayuti Coalition

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not induct any new partners into the ruling Mahayuti coalition. Speaking to the media in Delhi after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Fadnavis stated, “The Maharashtra BJP will not get any new alliance partner. We have closed our doors to new entrants. All the talks of us trying to split Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) are baseless.”

The statement comes amid reports that a senior leader from Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) had held discussions with top BJP leaders in Mumbai regarding a possible entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Sources within the state BJP have indicated that party chief Ravindra Chavan has been instructed to avoid making any commitments to leaders from rival parties, reinforcing the “no entry” stance.

While Fadnavis has signaled a status quo in the coalition, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently inducted six leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in a move dubbed “Operation Tiger”. However, senior BJP leaders in Maharashtra were reportedly unenthusiastic about this exercise, believing it diverted public attention from governance and strengthened Shinde’s political position within the coalition.

Sources said that at least two leaders from the Sena (UBT) had approached the BJP but eventually joined Shinde after the ruling party declined to accommodate them. Similar overtures from leaders in the NCP (SP) have also been turned down.

According to party insiders, BJP strategists believe that inducting leaders from the Sharad Pawar camp would not only upset Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar but also complicate long-term political calculations. “Unlike Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar maintains cordial relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On several occasions, the NCP (SP) chief has taken positions that placed national interest above partisan politics,” an insider said, adding that support from the NCP (SP) could be secured on merit without splitting the party.

The “no expansion” diktat marks a departure from the BJP’s recent strategy, which included routine induction programmes across districts and talukas earlier this year, welcoming local leaders from Opposition parties.

Senior Maharashtra BJP leaders argue that the party’s politics is driven by both arithmetic and chemistry. “We do not need a fourth or fifth partner. In coalitions, three is often seen as a crowd. Why create an additional burden?” said a member of the state BJP’s core committee.

Managing existing allies is another reason cited. “The BJP is conscious that any attempt to expand at the expense of the Sena or the NCP could unsettle them. Their support is crucial not only in Maharashtra but also at the Centre,” a source said.

Another leader noted that the BJP’s stance stems from lessons learnt from the splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP in 2022 and 2023, respectively. “Our cadre justified the split in the Shiv Sena as revenge for Uddhav Thackeray’s betrayal in 2019,” the leader said, referring to the walkout from the pre-poll alliance that led to the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. “However, things were different when the NCP split. There was considerable discomfort within the party, as many of our own leaders questioned the decision to bring the Ajit Pawar-led faction into the Mahayuti. The party’s poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections reinforced the need for caution in dealing with new entrants.”