Sena ministers skip cabinet meeting: Eknath Shinde says matter resolved, both allies agreed not to induct each other’s cadres

“A meeting with the CM took place and it was decided that there should be no differences in Mahayuti,” Shinde told reporters.

“We contested the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls together. The CM and I feel the atmosphere should not get muddied in the local body polls. The CM has said there should be no internal inductions into the party. I have instructed my party leaders and the CM will do the same with his leaders to ensure harmony,” he added.

Shiv Sena Minister Pratap Sarnaik admitted there was “disgruntlement” over BJP’s inductions in Palghar, Thane, and other districts, PTI reported. However, Uday Samant, who also skipped the meeting, insisted there was no boycott.

“There is no disgruntlement. There was no boycott of the cabinet meeting,” he said, citing personal and constituency-related engagements of various ministers.

Sources earlier told PTI that by staying away from the cabinet meeting, the Sena wanted to send a message to the BJP that it disapproved of the saffron party “weaning away” its workers — with the recent defections in Kalyan-Dombivli said to be the trigger.

Shiv Sena ministers later met Fadnavis and expressed their displeasure over the developments in Dombivli, sources said. The CM, however, reportedly pointed out that the Sena itself had inducted BJP members in neighbouring Ulhasnagar. He is learnt to have told the ministers that when one ally attracts another’s members, it cannot object if the BJP does the same. He further emphasised that henceforth, Mahayuti partners should refrain from inducting each other’s workers.

Sarnaik said both sides had issues but they were ironed out quickly. “There are issues even in a family and this is a Mahayuti government of three parties. Emotions have to be expressed before one another. We, along with Shinde, met the CM and shared our emotions. In 10 minutes, there was a solution to this,” he said.

He added that there had been unease over inductions in Palghar, Solapur, Thane, Kolhapur and Kalyan-Dombivli. “There is a race to induct people ahead of local body polls… Sometimes things happen and there is miscommunication,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray slammed the ministers of the Shinde-led faction for “boycotting” the meeting. “But boycotting a cabinet meeting for their selfish interests is an insult to Maharashtra and its people! Cabinet meetings are meant to solve the people's issues, not to handle your petty squabbles!” he said on X.

Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil denied any signs of displeasure, saying some ministers were attending a party meeting. Another Sena minister also said the issues had been addressed.

BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule dismissed talk of a boycott, saying the Sena ministers were away due to election-related work. “There is no issue of displeasure here… Many ministers had taken prior permission from CM Fadnavis before travelling to their native districts,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he did not sense any unhappiness during the meeting. He believed the absences were linked to scrutiny of nomination papers for the December 2 local polls.

(With PTI inputs)

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