Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, for the first time, openly addressed the high-profile defection of six Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to the rival faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

During an interview with a television channel, when directly asked about his alleged hidden hand and the extent of the BJP’s involvement in executing the split, he did not deny his support. However, he maintained tactical discretion regarding the specifics of the political manoeuvring.

Responding to queries on whether the split could have succeeded without his structural support, CM Fadnavis stated: “First of all, in such operations, one is not supposed to disclose what exactly transpired, who executed it, or how it was done. All I will say is that the operation was carried out by our ally [Eknath Shinde’s faction], and they had our full and proper support.”

He further added: “Whatever assistance they required from us as an ally, we provided it to them. Beyond this, it would not be wise or appropriate for a seasoned politician to reveal further details.”

While local political circles initially suggested that the MPs switched sides over grievances regarding a lack of development funds, CM Fadnavis pointed to a much deeper systemic collapse within the Uddhav Thackeray camp.

“While development funds for infrastructure, local projects and social issues might be one of the factors — since being in the opposition naturally impacts your constituency work — I do not believe it is the primary reason,” CM Fadnavis explained.

“The real breakdown happens when the top leadership stops instilling confidence in its rank and file,” he remarked.

Elaborating on the psychological and strategic mindset of elected representatives, CM Fadnavis noted that politicians naturally gravitate towards viable political futures.

“In politics, everyone looks out for their future. If an MP or MLA realises that the leader they are working under cannot guarantee a secure future, they begin to lose faith. It isn’t always just about being in power, but rather whether their leader is fighting for them, putting in the hard work and showing a clear path forward. When they realise things are just moving aimlessly as usual, they conclude there is no future left there. Naturally, they try to move to where they see a viable future,” the Chief Minister concluded.

–IANS

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