Shiv Sena will leverage Shinde’s clout to bag a few important portfolios Premium

Shiv Sena leaders demand respect for Eknath Shinde, seek stronger portfolios and a larger role in government.

There’s a repeated sentiment one hears from Shiv Sena leaders in Maharashtra: ‘Respectable treatment should be given to our leader Eknath Shinde.’ It comes attached with an unsaid warning: ‘Don’t trifle with him. Don’t take him lightly.’

With the Mahayuti still dragging its feet on government formation days after its sweeping victory in the Maharashtra Assembly election, most Shiv Sena leaders seem to have accepted that the party’s 57 seats are unlikely to bring Mr. Shinde back to the CM’s chair given the BJP’s 132-seat tally, but they emphasise this means that their party — and their leader — must be given a larger consideration in other areas as their just due.

As he prepares for an imminent stepdown, the caretaker Chief Minister faces the dilemma of how to best use it to leverage the party’s bargaining power, for stronger portfolios including the Home department, as well as a larger role in the Union government. Shiv Sena leaders also stress the need to preserve Mr. Shinde’s legacy as the common man’s CM, who set a precedent by opening the doors of his office and residence to ordinary people who travelled far and wide to see him.

“We did not ask for anything in the Centre earlier. Even when we had more numbers than some other regional parties, we were given a [Minister of State] position. We did not say anything because we had the Chief Minister’s position [in Maharashtra]. Now, if that is being taken away, then our party needs to grow too,” one Shiv Sena leader said.

“We have fought the elections under his leadership. He was our face. People trusted him and gave us this massive mandate,” said another leader. “If he is not going to be the Chief Minister, then the party should get repaid commensurately,” a third party leader said.

All the Shiv Sena leaders The Hindu spoke with denied rumours about the party declining the position of Deputy CM or giving mere outside support to a BJP government. “There is no question about Sena sitting out of the government. Also, we want Eknath Shinde to be the DCM if that is the top position given to our party,” another Sena leader insisted.

During the campaign for the Assembly election, Mr. Shinde held 75 rallies across the State. Between him and his son Shrikant Shinde, they covered more constituencies than the party contested.