The BJP-Shiv Sena tussle in Maharashtra seems to intensify, catching up the heat at the moment as the home department headed by the Chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis has decided to downgrade security cover for over 20 Shiv Sena MLAs. This includes the ministers who are not from Y+ category, with their security downgraded along with a reduction of escort vehicles, further withdrawal of cover given to other Shinde clan leaders.

The home department’s act is said to be a ‘balancing sorts of’. It has also withdrawn cover of a few BJP and Ajit Pawar led NCP politicians, but as observed the number of Sena Netas whose security is withdrawn is higher. The BJP leaders affected included Ravindra Chavan and Pratap Chikhalikar.

On Monday Eknath Shinde held a review meeting of the industries department, which is under Shiv Sena’s Uday Samant. This comes right after a review meeting held by Fadnavis just last month. This stands for another instance of oneupmanship where the Mahayuti government is facing some inside feud between BJP and Sena. The review meeting by Shinde comes after Samant had said in a letter that the department officials were not keeping him in fray over key policy issues and discussions.

The feud between the partners in the coalition has been ongoing since quite some time now. It basically started over with guardian minister posts for Raigad and Nashik, which swiftly moved to other areas of control. In January, Shinde had skipped a meeting of Nashik Metropolitan Regional Development Authority called by Fadnavis, relating to preparations for 2027 Kumbh Mela. Notably, Shinde called for a separate meet on the subject. Also, despite the CM’s relief fund cell in functioning, Shinde has set up a Deputy CM’s Medical Aid Cell.

Earlier, Shinde was excluded from Maharashtra Disaster Management Authority which was headed by Fadnavis. He was included later on. The Maharashtra Government further appointed MSRTC Chairperson as the Transport Secretary, even though the post was held by Transport Minister Shiv Sena’s Pratap Sarnaik.

Now, the Chief Minister himself has confirmed that the security co9ver of several ministers has been lowered. Most of the cabinet ministers have been provided Y+ security cover along with escort vehicles. Thus, except for the ministers, the cover for all the legislators has been downgraded, and withdrawn for the Ex-MPs. When Shinde had become the CM, the Y- security cover along with escort vehicles was provided to 44 legislators and 11 Lok Sabha members. The same was continued, but now it has been changed by the Home Department.

This has caused discontent in the Shinde camp and further reveals the growing political tensions between Fadnavis and Shinde that are coming to the forefront.