22 June,2026 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh. Pic/X
BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh on Monday welcomed Opposition Members of Parliament joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying the move could strengthen the Union government, but questioned the need to induct Opposition legislators into Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance.
His remarks come amid political developments involving six of the nine Lok Sabha members of Shiv Sena (UBT), who are reportedly rebelling against the party leadership. Two of the MPs have already confirmed their decision to join the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Deshmukh said MPs from Opposition parties joining the NDA could help strengthen the Centre and support the passage of important legislation.
"I welcome their move as we need a stronger Centre to pass several important bills. But do we really need MLAs from the Opposition in Maharashtra?" asked Deshmukh, who represents the Savner assembly constituency in Nagpur district.
The BJP leader argued that the political situation in Maharashtra differs from that at the national level because the Mahayuti alliance already commands a strong majority in the state assembly.
The ruling coalition, comprising the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena and the NCP led by Sunetra Pawar, currently has 237 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Deshmukh pointed out that the alliance already has more than the two-thirds majority required for political stability and smooth functioning of the government.
According to him, the existing strength of the alliance is sufficient and there is no immediate necessity to increase its numbers by bringing in legislators from Opposition parties.
Deshmukh cautioned that inducting more MLAs into the ruling alliance could affect the interests of those who are already part of the Mahayuti.
He said the aspirations and political future of existing legislators should be taken into consideration before encouraging more defections from Opposition ranks.
"Irrespective of the eagerness of Opposition MLAs to join Mahayuti, we need to decide whether we really want any more MLAs, as the existing lot is enough and capable," he said.
The BJP MLA also urged the leadership of the ruling alliance to reconsider its approach towards welcoming Opposition legislators.
"It is my request to all leaders of Mahayuti that they rethink this strategy of bringing Opposition MLAs into the ruling alliance," he said.
The debate over defections has gained momentum following recent remarks by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Speaking at the Shiv Sena foundation day rally on Friday, Shinde suggested that more leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) could join his party in the coming days.
"This is just a trailer; the movie is still not over. Two of the six Lok Sabha members of Shiv Sena (UBT) have already stated that they are joining Shiv Sena led by Shinde. The remaining four have maintained silence."
The statement has fuelled speculation about further political realignments in Maharashtra, particularly within the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Ashish Deshmukh belongs to a prominent political family in the Vidarbha region. He won the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election from the Savner constituency on a BJP ticket after defeating the Congress candidate.
His father, Ranjit Deshmukh, served as president of the Maharashtra Congress, while his uncle, Anil Deshmukh of the NCP (SP), was Maharashtra's home minister during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Ashish Deshmukh joined the BJP before the 2014 Assembly elections and defeated his uncle Anil Deshmukh from the Katol constituency in Nagpur district. He later returned to the Congress and contested against then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the 2019 Assembly elections.
However, he was expelled from the Congress over his remarks against Rahul Gandhi. He subsequently rejoined the BJP, which fielded him from Savner, a constituency that had remained a Congress stronghold since 2004. Deshmukh went on to win the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections, returning to the state legislature as a BJP representative.
(With inputs from PTI)
