Ajit Pawar Downplays Shiv Sena Ministers' Absence, Blames Municipal Polls

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Mumbai: A crucial cabinet meeting in Maharashtra took place on Tuesday, but several Shiv Sena ministers failed to attend. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), dismissed the absence as a routine matter, attributing it to the scrutiny of nomination papers for the December 2 municipal council polls. Only Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena leader, was present at the meeting. Sources suggest that the recent defections from the Shiv Sena to the BJP in Kalyan-Dombivli may have triggered the tensions. The BJP has been actively inducting Sena leaders and workers in the region, causing unease within the Shiv Sena. A party source stated that the Shiv Sena wanted to send a message to its ally BJP, expressing disapproval of the latter's tactics. However, Pawar maintained that all parties have the right to expand their support base and improve their footprint, especially during election seasons. "This is a normal occurrence when elections are near," Pawar said, downplaying the issue. He also pointed out that his own party, the NCP, had two members absent from the meeting, and he did not sense any disgruntlement among the Shiv Sena ministers. The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP, and the recent developments may pose a challenge to the alliance's stability.