Signs of reconciliation between Thackeray cousins rattles Shinde

Reconciliation between Thackeray cousins threatens Shiv Sena President Eknath Shinde's political dominance in Maharashtra.

The recent signs of reconciliation between Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Raj Thackeray have sent ripples through Maharashtra’s political landscape, drawing cautious optimism from allies and opponents alike—except for one key leader: Shiv Sena President and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Mr. Shinde, who led a rebellion in 2022 to split the Shiv Sena and form a government with the BJP to become the Chief Minister, has been the primary beneficiary of the Thackeray cousins’ estrangement. 

Their newfound camaraderie, however, threatens to upend his carefully consolidated position. His visible irritation when questioned about their warming ties—uncharacteristic for the usually composed leader—betrays his unease.  

Typically unflappable and known for his steady rapport with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mr. Shinde appeared uncharacteristically curt when pressed by reporters in Satara. “Talk about work,” he responded sharply in Marathi.

A potential alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS could significantly alter Maharashtra’s power dynamics. Mr. Raj Thackeray’s party, though not an electoral heavyweight, commands influence over Mumbai’s Marathi-speaking populace. Combined with Mr. Uddhav’s remaining Shiv Sena loyalists, the duo could erode Mr. Shinde’s support base, weakening his claim over the party’s legacy.  

Having staked his political future on the belief that the Shiv Sena’s internal war was settled in his favour, especially after the 2024 Assembly elections, Mr. Shinde now faces a resurgent Thackeray bloc. The BJP, his alliance partner, may also recalibrate its strategy if the Thackeray-MNS combine gains traction, leaving Mr. Shinde vulnerable.  

“Mr. Shinde is growing increasingly uneasy. While the possibility of a reconciliation between the Thackeray cousins remains speculative in Maharashtra’s ever-shifting political landscape, it has certainly unsettled Mr. Shinde, who is already visibly disgruntled with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over a series of administrative decisions,” political analyst Hemant Desai observed.