Traffic chaos during the BJP’s demonstration over the women’s reservation bill in Mumbai's Worli area prompted an irate woman to confront Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, blaming him for the snarls. The incident occurred on Tuesday (April 21
Outgoing Apple, Inc. CEO Tim Cook oversaw a period where the company sank far deeper roots in the Indian market than had been done in the decades prior. Most notably, he presided over the firm’s supply chain expansion, during which it set up iPhone assembly operations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
West Bengal polls: Polling for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4. West Medinipur: Union Home Minister on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister
The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) is likely to announce the results for the Class 10 (Matric) and Class 12 (Intermediate) board examinations for the 2025–2026 academic session. According to board officials and reports, the JAC Board has completed the process of preparing the Jharkhand 10th
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a public interest litigation challenging the validity of the 2008 National Investigation Agency Act, Live Law reported. The Act set up the National Investigation Agency in 2008 and contains a list of scheduled offences that it has the power to
Woman gives 5 reasons she’ll never return to a corporate job even with 2x salaryA Dubai-based woman has explained why she will never return to a corporate job, even if her pay were to be doubled. Updated on: Apr 22, 2026 11:45 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link A Dubai-based woman has
Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel, who effected a stunning stumping of Kolkata Knight Riders batter Cameron Green in the IPL on Sunday (April 19, 2026), said he was grateful to be working with the legendary Sri Lankan gloveman Kumar Sangakkara.Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel
The Congress said that Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to West Bengal on Thursday to campaign for the Assembly elections had to be cancelled after the administration allegedly denied permission, The Telegraph reported. Gandhi was to address a rally in Kolkata and another in Serampore
As BJP tightens grip in Maharashtra, cracks deepen in Shiv Sena
A year after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance swept Maharashtra with 235 seats, political fault lines are widening within the ruling coalition even as the opposition remains disoriented. The Congress is distancing itself from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena, while tensions have intensified between the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
A year after the Bharatiya Janata Party with its allies the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party stormed into power in Maharashtra virtually wiping out the opposition winning 235 out of the 288 seats, the opposition is still to gather its wits. The drubbing has put the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in a disarray with the Congress now trying to distance itself from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Sena (UBT Sena). While the opposition camp in disarray there are also deep fissures from within the Mahayuti alliance, especially the Shiv Sena as the BJP has emerged stronger under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The BJP has got 132 seats just 12 seats short of the 144 number for a majority, the BJP's big numbers has meant problems within the alliance as the Shiv Sena and BJP are at loggerheads as the former feels that the BJP now wants to expand its footprint in the state at its expense.
ALSO READ: Click here to check the biggest stories of 2025
In late November Nilesh Rane, the Shiv Sena's Kudal MLA, barged into the home of a BJP party functionary along with the police where they found a bag filled with cash. As the opposition on the sidelines cheered on, Nilesh claimed that the BJP was using money power to win the Kankavli local body polls. He accused none other than state BJP president Ravindra Chavan of supplying money to BJP workers. The Shiv Sena and BJP were already estranged after the BJP refused an offer for an alliance for the Kankavli Municipal council polls. The two parties contested separately with the Shiv Sena cobbling up an alliance to take on the BJP in the Kankavli civic polls. The Shiv Sena supported alliance eventually won the Kankavli civic poll but Nilesh Rane's allegations against the state BJP chief Chavan have demonstrated how brittle relations between the two allies are.
ALSO READ: 2025 in the rearview: A year of tumult and triumphThe biggest showdown, however, came from Kalyan Dombivli, where the BJP last month inducted some long-time Shiv Sena functionaries who were close to Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The move angered the Shiv Sena as the BJP had already eyeing the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency from where Shrikant Shinde is an MP. The Shiv Sena read it as a sign that the BJP was building its base in Kalyan and would stake its claim for the Kalyan seat forcefully in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
Which is why the response from the Shiv Sena was immediate, Shiv Sena ministers boycotted the weekly cabinet meeting of the Maharashtra government. They later met Chief Minister Fadnavis to complain on the issue, Fadnavis however retorted that the BJP was just following the Sena as the latter had a few days back poached some of its cadres in Ulhasnagar. Not satisfied with Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde flew to Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah to complain to him about the poaching.
While the Shiv Sena claimed it now had a mutual understanding that the three ruling parties will no longer poach functionaries from each other's party, Ravindra Chavan again inducted two Shiv Sena functionaries from Kalyan-Dombivli on December 3. The Shiv Sena protested that the BJP had violated the alliance dharma, but the BJP again claimed that the Shiv Sena first broke the rule by inducting a female party cadre from Ambernath in their party.
Significantly alarm bells have been ringing in the Shiv Sena not just because of the BJP poaching key party functionaries from Kalyan Dombivli. The BJP in the last few days has inducted in several candidates who had contested against Shiv Sena MLAs in the 2024 assembly polls.
For instance, the party has inducted Satyajit Patankar and independent candidate from Patan who had contested against Shiv Sena Minister Shambhuraj Desai. Similarly, in Malegaon Outer Assembly constituency the BJP has got Advay Hire from the UBT, who had contested against Dada Bhuse, another Shiv Sena minister. Another UBT candidate Raju Shinde, who had contested against Sanjay Shirsat, another Shiv Sena minister, has also been brought into the BJP.
The inductions have led to fears from the Shiv Sena that the BJP is strengthening itself and is already planning to stake claim on its seats for the 2029 assembly polls.
While both Fadnavis and Shinde praise each other in public, the tensions between the Maharashtra BJP unit and the Shiv Sena primarily stems from the tug of war between the CM and his deputy CM.
Things between Shinde and Fadnavis were initially good after the latter gave up the chief minister's post in favour of Shinde in 2022. However, things have soured as Shinde consolidated his hold in the party and began taking decisions unilaterally. Sources said that there were frequent run-ins between Fadnavis and Shinde over running the government.
BJP leaders claim that Shinde used his proximity to Home Minister Amit Shah to browbeat the BJP leadership in the state. Things however changed after the 2024 assembly polls when the BJP nearly reached the majority figure on its own. Even then, Shinde first staked claim on the chief minister's post claiming it was due to his mandate that the Mahayuti alliance got so many seats. Things between Fadnavis and Shinde have soured so much that when Shinde realised that he was not getting the top job, he tried to reach out to the BJP leadership warning them about the drawbacks of Fadnavis being the CM.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Mahayuti Set To Fight Maharashtra Civic Polls Together Mahayuti Set To Win 68 Seats Unopposed In Maharashtra Civic Polls Amid Opposition Walkover 2 swept away after tractor overturns in drain in Ambala Man Swept Away While Filming Reels At Duduma Waterfall In Odisha Orbán era swept away by Péter Magyar's Hungary election landslide Ajit Pawar’s ‘corrupt demon’ jab at BJP triggers storm within Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra PDP's alliance with BJP in past perhaps led to loss of 370 and 35A BJP-led alliance wins 68 seats unopposed in municipal elections two weeks before voting Mahayuti Seat-Sharing Finalised Political lines blur as Mahayuti
Shah Rukh Khan stayed calm amid fan frenzy during visit to Ajmer dargah, reveals bodyguardBodyguard Yusuf Ibrahim revealed that he had accompanied Shah Rukh Khan to the Ajmer dargah on a Friday, but the visit quickly turned chaotic. Apr 22, 2026
55 minutes ago
Karnataka recently rolled out a draft policy to alter the taxation structure on liquor sold in the state. The policy proposed taxing liquor based on the actual volume of alcohol present in it — or the Alcohol-in-Beverage taxation system, a popular practice in western countries
55 minutes ago
Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPN) are cruel genetic diseases that affect around 1 in 2,500 individuals. A person affected by IPN develops high foot arches, curled toes, thin calves, and walks awkwardly or trips. Their fingers may become clawed and, because they lose sensation
55 minutes ago
Kedarnath Dham portals open today, CM Dhami offers prayersChar Dham Yatra began on April 19, with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarakhand on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya Published on: Apr 22, 2026 1:33 PM IST By HT Correspondent
55 minutes ago
No, ICSE Class 10 Result 2026 will not be declared today, April 22, despite the false claim floating on social media platforms. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) told Times of India (TOI) dismissed the rumour and said that the board has not made any announcement
55 minutes ago
Kevin Warsh has clashed with Democratic senators during a fiery confirmation hearing to decide whether he should be installed as Federal Reserve chairman. From suggestions that he would be President Donald Trump's "sock puppet" to questions over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein
55 minutes ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Panasonic ACs are trending this summer! Grab top deals with up to 30% discountPanasonic ACs are becoming a top choice this summer. Check out the latest deals, key features
55 minutes ago
A Mumbai woman has gone viral after angrily confronting Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan over a massive traffic jam allegedly caused by a political rally in Worli, with many on social media calling her the voice of ordinary commuters. The clip, shared by X user Prashant Dhumal
55 minutes ago
IIT Kharagpur professor invites students to his birthday party, internet enviousAn IIT Kharagpur student left the internet surprised—and a little envious—after sharing a video of a professor’s birthday celebration with his class. Updated on: Apr 22
55 minutes ago
The Iran war has caused a significant drop in global oil demand, with consumption plummeting due to supply disruptions and record-high fuel prices. While this short-term destruction accelerates the shift to EVs and biofuels, the conflict's longer-term impact may paradoxically boost oil demand
55 minutes ago
Global oil prices edged lower in Asia on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire with Iran until peace talks between the two countries have progressed. He added that the US will continue to blockade Iran's ports until Tehran presents a "unified proposal"
55 minutes ago
Abhishek Sharma smashed an explosive century on Tuesday. He scored an unbeaten 135 runs from 68 balls. This helped Sunrisers Hyderabad defeat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs in the Indian Premier League. Sharma's performance was the fifth-highest individual score in the tournament's history
55 minutes ago
One year after the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, which claimed 26 lives in a targeted assault on civilians, the meadows of Kashmir seem to have begun their slow healing with a return to tourism. Yet for the families left behind, time has not healed in the way society often expects
55 minutes ago
At least 13 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in India's southern state of Kerala, officials say. The incident took place in Thrissur, where around 40 people were believed to be assembling firecrackers in a cluster of sheds for an upcoming festival
55 minutes ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Stay safe and protected this summer with these SPF-infused skin and hair productsKeep your skin and hair protected with these SPF-infused products. Published on: Apr 22
55 minutes ago
David Wilcock death rumors: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna sounds the alarm about dead, missing US scientists, ‘Something is up’Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has sounded the alarm about an increasing number of missing and dead scientists amid rumors that David Wilcock has died by suicide. Updated on: Apr 22
55 minutes ago
The protests by workers across Indian cities through early April are an urgent signal that survival is impossible on wages that hover around the bare legal minimum. Domestic, gig and delivery workers to industrial labourers in the Delhi-National Capital Region protested demanding an increase in
55 minutes ago
Walk into most classrooms today, and you will find students who can define empathy, write about conflict, and explain decision-making. But ask them to navigate a difficult conversation, respond to peer pressure, or articulate what they feel; the confidence disappears
55 minutes ago
V. Muthuraja returns to contest Pudukkottai seat for DMK in 2026 Tamil Nadu electionsV. Muthuraja, a key DMK politician from Tamil Nadu, won the Pudukkottai seat in 2021 with 85,802 votes, aims to defend his position in the 2026 elections. Published on: Apr 22
55 minutes ago
Learn how to search your name in the voter list 2026, verify details in the electoral roll, and download your Voter ID card online via NVSP and ECI portals. Step-by-step guide with direct links and troubleshooting tips. With Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal approaching
55 minutes ago
Nineteen hundred exhibitors from Italy and around the world. 700 designers, all under the age of 35. Over 169,000 sq.m. of exhibition. The numbers give a sense of the scale of this year’s Salone del Mobile.Milano, the landmark European furniture and interiors design trade fair that attracts a
55 minutes ago
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a presidential trip to the southern African nation of Eswatini, accusing Beijing of putting pressure on other countries to bar his aircraft from flying over their territories. Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked Lai's overflight permits after
55 minutes ago
International benchmark Brent crude futures traded at $99.29 per barrel, up 0.82 per cent, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 1.15 per cent to $90.71. Mumbai: Global crude oil prices edged higher to nearly $100 a barrel on Wednesday as traders and investors analysed the outlook for US-Iran
55 minutes ago
A notorious North Korean hacking group is likely behind the theft of nearly $300 million in cryptocurrency over the weekend, an affected party has said, in the biggest known crypto heist this year.It is the latest such incident linked to North Korea
56 minutes ago
Diet Coke has become an unexpected casualty of supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions involving Iran, with several Indian cities witnessing stock-outs of the popular sugar-free beverage due to a severe shortage of aluminium cans. The crunch has also affected other canned drinks
56 minutes ago
April 22 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on April 22, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: Apr 22, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on April 22
56 minutes ago
The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) is expected to announce the Assam HS Result 2026 for Class 12 students in the coming days. Officials are likely to confirm the exact date and time of the result declaration soon. Once the results are released
56 minutes ago
