Eknath Shinde meets Amit Shah, fuels Cabinet expansion buzz after Sena UBT defections
The meeting comes a month after six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena formally joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, significantly strengthening the ruling faction's position in Parliament.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his son and Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde, along with 13 MPs aligned with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi during a recent visit, with discussions believed to have centred on the proposed Union Cabinet expansion and the likely ministerial berths for leaders who recently defected from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
The meeting has intensified speculation over the growing influence of the Shinde faction within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Sources told India Today that the delegation met Shah at his official residence for more than an hour.
According to sources, Shah assured the MPs of full support for development projects in their constituencies and said major issues concerning Maharashtra would be addressed in upcoming Union Cabinet meetings.
Sources also said Shrikant Shinde has been tasked with coordinating between the MPs and the Centre to ensure quicker resolution of pending matters.
Following the delegation meeting, Amit Shah and Eknath Shinde also held a closed-door discussion lasting around 15 minutes.
SIX UDDHAV SENA MPs DEFECTED
The meeting comes a month after six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, significantly strengthening the ruling faction's position in Parliament.
The six MPs—Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar—had skipped a crucial Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi, triggering speculation about an imminent split.
Their induction is being viewed as a major political gain for Shinde and a setback for Uddhav Thackeray.
Addressing a press conference after welcoming the MPs, Shinde had described them as "six tigers" and termed their decision a "second revolt" after the 2022 rebellion that split the Shiv Sena into two.
He said the latest development reflected growing support for his leadership and the party's commitment to Hindutva and Bal Thackeray's legacy. The six defections also helped the faction meet the two-thirds requirement under the anti-defection law, paving the way for formal recognition of the merger by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
If the merger receives the Speaker's approval, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena's strength in the Lok Sabha will rise to 13 MPs, considerably improving its bargaining power within the NDA.
Sources further indicated that the expected Union Cabinet reshuffle could reward the faction with one Cabinet berth and one or two Minister of State positions.
Shrikant Shinde is being seen as a strong contender for a Cabinet portfolio, while one of the newly inducted rebel MPs could also find a place in the Union ministry.
The latest developments mark another milestone in the political battle that began with the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena and reshaped Maharashtra politics.
As Parliament's monsoon session approaches and discussions over a Cabinet expansion gather momentum, the outcome of the Speaker's decision and the Centre's ministerial appointments will be closely watched for their impact on both the NDA and the continuing rivalry between the Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray factions.