Mumbai, Maharashtra – The political landscape in Maharashtra has once again been stirred, with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s unequivocal support for his party’s MLA and minister, Yogesh Kadam, threatening to complicate matters for alliance partner BJP. Kadam stands accused of alleged ties to an illegal dance club in Kandivli, a charge that has put the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in a precarious position.
The controversy erupted following social activist Anjali Damani’s anticipation of action against Kadam. However, Shinde’s public declaration at a rally on Sunday – “Yogesh, you need not worry, this Eknath is with you” – has effectively drawn a line in the sand. This open backing from a senior leader within the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ alliance (comprising BJP, Shinde-led Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP) makes any punitive action by Fadnavis and the BJP significantly more challenging.
Kadam, who represents the Dapoli Assembly seat in the Konkan region and is the son of prominent Sena politician Ramdas Kadam, has been under scrutiny for weeks due to his purported involvement with the Kandivli dance club. This isn’t an isolated incident, as other Shinde camp MLAs, including Arjun Khotkar, Sanjay Gaikwad, and Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirshat, have also found themselves embroiled in various disputes, causing palpable unease among alliance members.
Capitalizing on this perceived vulnerability, the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction met with Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Monday, intensifying pressure for action against the accused ministers, specifically naming Kadam and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate (from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP). UBT MLC Anil Parab highlighted a formal complaint filed by Mumbai Police concerning the bar purportedly owned by Yogesh Kadam’s mother during the recent monsoon session of the state legislature. The entire opposition had called for action against Kadam, who also serves as the Minister of State for Home in the Mahayuti administration.
Adding to the pressure, social activist Anjali Damani’s personal visit to the Kandivli bar last week, seeking direct information from the police, underscores the public demand for accountability. Damani’s threat of legal action against the “negligent minister” if the government, implicitly Devendra Fadnavis, fails to act, suggests a growing public impatience.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s recent comments, suggesting that not all accused ministers necessarily warrant action and emphasizing the need to assess the “background and trustworthiness of the people filing the allegations,” hint at a potential strategy of selective leniency or a cautious approach to avoid further internal strife. However, this stance risks being perceived as an attempt to shield allies, potentially undermining the government’s credibility and commitment to transparency. The coming days will reveal how the BJP navigates this delicate situation, balancing alliance cohesion with public expectations of justice.
