The Maharashtra Political Crisis

Background: After the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Shiv Sena and BJP, which had fought the elections together as allies, failed to form a government due to disagreements over the Chief Minister's post. Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, demanded the Chief Minister’s position, which BJP was unwilling to concede.

Crisis: The impasse led to a political crisis where the two parties were unable to form a coalition government. Meanwhile, the Congress and NCP, both of which had been traditional rivals of the Shiv Sena, were invited to join hands with Shiv Sena.

Resolution: The crisis ended when Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, heading a coalition government with the NCP and Congress, marking an unprecedented alliance of ideologically opposite parties. This event also marked the breaking of the longstanding alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP.

2. 2022 Maharashtra Political Crisis (Eknath Shinde Rebellion)

Background: In 2022, a political crisis erupted in Maharashtra when a faction of Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Eknath Shinde, rebelled against the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. The rebellion began when Shinde, along with a group of Shiv Sena legislators, moved to Surat (Gujarat) and later to Assam, seeking to break away from the alliance with Congress and NCP.

Crisis: The rebellion was fueled by dissatisfaction with Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, his alliance with Congress and NCP, and his decisions on government policies. As the number of rebel MLAs increased, it became clear that the Shiv Sena government was at risk of losing its majority in the Assembly.

Resolution: Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Chief Minister after the Supreme Court ruled that a floor test should take place to determine the legitimacy of the Shiv Sena government. Eknath Shinde, the leader of the rebel faction, aligned with the BJP, and together they formed a new government, with Shinde becoming the Chief Minister. This marked another shift in Maharashtra's political landscape.