The Shinde-Fadnavis government has won another day, but the chief minister has yet to come out of the BJP’s shadow, check internal dissent, and neutralize the Sena’s sympathy for the Thackeray faction
Will the smile last? CM Eknath Shinde with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. (Photo: ANI)
IEven when everything seems to be going right for Eknath Shinde, a sense of unease refuses to leave him. Even though he has been made the chief minister, he has to constantly fight the BJP’s attempts to undermine him, and break the perception of being in power, but not in power. Once again, the Election Commission of India (ECI) may have granted his faction official Shiv Sena status and allowed them to retain the party’s bow and arrow symbol, but it is Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s faction that garnering all sympathy. And on 11 May, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud offered relief to his government by refusing to restore the status quo and reinstate Thackeray as chief minister, as he had one day had voluntarily resigned. was asked to prove his majority on the floor of the House. But Shinde’s troubles are not taking the name of ending.