‘Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai’: Eknath Shinde Flexes Muscle in Maharashtra Power Game

By MANISH ANAND

New Delhi, June 18, 2026 — While six of the nine Shiva Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) Lok Sabha MPs turn rebels, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seems to have made a loud announcement of his relevance in the Maharashtra politics. Having lost the CM post to Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) had to settle for an equal role alongside the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar). As the six rebel MPs seek to merge into Shinde’s outfit, Eknath Shinde is poised for a sudden surge in the political weight.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had suffered a major setback in Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ruling alliance at the Centre was able to win just 17 Lok Sabha seats out of 48. The Congress had taken a major lead in the state by winning a total of 13 Lok Sabha seats. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) had won nine Lok Sabha seats. The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) had won a total of eight Lok Sabha seats.

While the Eknath Shinde’s outfit had demonstrated party’s firm base by winning seven Lok Sabha seats, the debate on who really is the heir to the political legacy of Bal Thackeray is likely to open up now. The Shinde outfit after the merger of the six rebel MPs will command a strength of 13 seats in the NDA, which will be higher than the BJP’s tally in the state.

Political observers argue that Shinde may assert his weight within the NDA after gaining further boost from the rebellion in the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit. Observers also argue that an assertive Shinde could make an uncomfortable proposition for the BJP, as he had made his displeasure known when he was being replaced with Fadnavis as the CM of the state.

A resurgent Shiv Sena under Shinde leadership has the potential to change the political equations in the state. Shinde is known to have strong followings among the Shiv Sena workers and the Maratha constituency, which was cultivated by Bal Thackeray.

In the aftermath of the demise of Ajit Pawar, Shinde is likely to become an assertive alliance partner in the state alliance. He’s also likely to seek consolidation of the Maratha vote base under the banner of his party, while attempting to nibble away the residual workers base of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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