Sun Mar 02 16:56:16 UTC 2025: ## Maharashtra Ruling Alliance Denies Rift Amidst Budget Session
**Mumbai, India** – Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuthi alliance vehemently denied reports of internal conflict ahead of the state assembly’s budget session. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed speculation of a “cold war” between himself and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, emphasizing their strong working relationship and the alliance’s resounding victory in the recent assembly elections.
Fadnavis’s statement followed a cabinet meeting and a customary tea gathering boycotted by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He criticized the MVA’s boycott and described their nine-page letter of grievances as based on press reports rather than concrete issues.
Recent reports suggested friction between Fadnavis and Shinde, stemming from Shinde’s relinquishing of the Chief Minister’s post to Fadnavis and the subsequent scaling down of security for 55 lawmakers from Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction. While the government attributed the security reduction to a reevaluation of threat levels, sources indicate Shinde remains unconvinced. The appointments of guardian ministers for Raigad and Nashik districts, key locations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela, further fueled speculation of ongoing tensions.
Despite the alliance’s denials, the reported rift has buoyed the opposition MVA, which suffered a significant defeat in the previous elections. The alliance’s formation was itself marked by internal wrangling, with the selection of the Chief Minister taking over two weeks and reportedly involving considerable negotiation between the BJP and Shinde.
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