Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ended speculation about further political shifts in the state. He stated that the BJP has no intention of adding more allies to the Mahayuti coalition.
“The Maharashtra BJP will not accept any new alliance partner. We have closed our doors to new entrants. All rumours about attempts to split Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) are unfounded,” Fadnavis told reporters in Delhi on Tuesday after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
His comments come after reports of talks between a senior NCP (SP) leader and BJP figures in Mumbai regarding possible entry into the NDA.
The message has reached the state BJP office in Mumbai. Sources indicate that state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan was told not to offer commitments to leaders from other parties.
While Fadnavis signalled stability within the NDA, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde recently inducted six leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in what was called “Operation Tiger.”
Senior BJP leaders in Maharashtra were reportedly unenthusiastic about the move. They felt it diverted attention from governance to defections and boosted Shinde’s position by increasing his party’s Lok Sabha strength to 13.
Sources said at least two Sena (UBT) leaders approached the BJP but joined Shinde after the ruling party declined them. Similar approaches from NCP (SP) leaders were also rejected.
The BJP believes that taking in leaders from the Sharad Pawar camp would upset Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and affect long-term plans. An insider noted that Sharad Pawar maintains good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and often prioritises national interest. Support could be obtained without splitting the party.
This stance differs from the BJP’s earlier approach. Until the recent local body elections, the party had held induction events across districts to welcome leaders from opposition parties.
Senior Maharashtra BJP leaders say the party’s strategy balances numbers and compatibility.
“We do not need a fourth or fifth partner. In coalitions, three is often enough. Why add extra pressure?” said a member of the state BJP’s core committee.
Leaders also cite the need to manage existing allies. “The BJP knows that expanding at the cost of the Sena or the NCP could unsettle them. Their backing matters both in Maharashtra and at the Centre,” a source said.
Another leader linked the decision to lessons from the 2022 Shiv Sena and 2023 NCP splits.
“Our cadre accepted the Shiv Sena split as payback for Uddhav Thackeray’s 2019 move. But the NCP split caused unease inside the party, and many questioned bringing in the Ajit Pawar group. The BJP’s weak 2024 Lok Sabha results were viewed as public disapproval,” the leader said.
The BJP won only nine of Maharashtra’s 48 Lok Sabha seats in 2024, down from 23 in 2019. The MVA won 31.
A section of the BJP also stresses the need to protect its own organisation. Leaders admit that managing the ambitions of the party’s 132 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly is harder than expansion.
“When outsiders join, everyone sees it as a power deal. It often comes at the expense of long-serving workers,” a senior leader said. “Earlier, inductions could be justified as growth. Now that we are the largest party with strong local presence, the focus must turn inward.”
