Maharashtra's Ruling Alliance Faces Internal Strains and Opposition Pressure

Tensions between Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde, coupled with rising crime and corruption allegations, dominate the political landscape ahead of the budget session.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde deny reports of a rift, but Shinde's absence from key events and reversed decisions on his projects fuel speculation.
The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) aims to exploit the alleged feud and hold the government accountable for rising crime, including recent high-profile incidents involving women’s safety.
Corruption allegations against ruling alliance ministers, such as Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate's conviction for fraud, have intensified scrutiny on the Mahayuti leadership.
Criticism grows over the Fadnavis administration's handling of populist schemes, with opposition leaders questioning the decline in development budgets and the shrinking reach of welfare programs.
The upcoming budget session is expected to be contentious, with opposition parties targeting the government over governance failures and internal discord within the ruling coalition.