MUMBAI – Aaditya Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has issued a cautionary message to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, suggesting that their current alliance with the BJP could face similar challenges to those experienced by the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
Thackeray’s remarks, made in a recent interview, referenced the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra and the formation of a new government led by Eknath Shinde in alliance with the BJP. Thackeray claims that the BJP orchestrated the split, accusing them of using tactics to weaken and ultimately control regional parties.
“What happened to us can happen to Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu,” Thackeray stated, implying that the BJP’s ambition for national dominance could lead them to undermine their current allies. He suggested that the BJP’s focus on consolidating power at the center could eventually lead them to destabilize state governments led by regional partners.
Thackeray pointed to the BJP’s track record of forging and breaking alliances with regional parties across the country. He cited instances where the BJP initially allied with regional players, only to later marginalize or undermine them in pursuit of its own political objectives.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader emphasized the importance of regional parties maintaining their autonomy and resisting attempts by larger national parties to exert undue influence. He argued that regional parties play a vital role in representing the diverse interests and concerns of different states and regions.
Thackeray’s warning comes at a time when Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have emerged as crucial allies for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the center. With the BJP falling short of a majority in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the support of these regional parties has become essential for the stability of the NDA government.
However, Thackeray’s remarks serve as a reminder of the inherent tensions that can arise in coalition governments, particularly when there are significant power imbalances between the partners. The future of the NDA government will likely depend on the ability of the BJP and its regional allies to navigate these tensions and find common ground on key policy issues. It remains to be seen whether Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu will heed Thackeray’s warning and take steps to safeguard their own political interests within the alliance.
