Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi alongside his son, Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde, and 13 MPs from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The meeting, held at Shah’s official residence, has fueled speculation about a potential Union Cabinet expansion and ministerial berths for leaders who recently defected from the Uddhav Thackeray faction.
Shinde Faction Gains Momentum After Defections
The delegation’s discussion with Shah lasted over an hour, with assurances given for development projects in their constituencies. Shah also indicated that major Maharashtra-related issues would be addressed in upcoming Union Cabinet meetings. Shrikant Shinde was tasked with coordinating between the MPs and the Centre to expedite pending matters.
A separate closed-door meeting between Shah and Eknath Shinde followed, lasting around 15 minutes. The developments come a month after six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the Shinde faction, strengthening its position in Parliament. The defecting MPs were:
- Sanjay Dina Patil
- Sanjay Deshmukh
- Sanjay Jadhav
- Bhausaheb Wakchaure
- Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar
- Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar
Political Implications and Next Steps
Shinde described the defections as a “second revolt” after the 2022 split, framing them as a boost to his leadership and the party’s Hindutva stance. The move helps the faction meet the two-thirds requirement under the anti-defection law, paving the way for formal merger recognition by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
If approved, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s Lok Sabha strength will rise to 13 MPs, enhancing its NDA bargaining power. Speculation suggests the faction could secure one Cabinet berth and one or two Minister of State positions, with Shrikant Shinde as a strong contender. The outcome of the Speaker’s decision and potential ministerial appointments will be closely watched as Parliament’s monsoon session approaches.
