Narendra Modi is expected to meet Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Thursday, with discussions likely to focus on the political impact of the ongoing Gen Z-led protests, Maharashtra's political developments, and a possible cabinet expansion, sources said.
The meeting comes as the Centre is consulting with leaders of NDA allies to assess the growing youth-led protests that have spread across numerous states in recent weeks.
It is believed that Shinde has been invited as part of the Prime Minister’s outreach to coalition partners to get state-specific feedback and assess the situation on the ground.
The meeting had been planned in advance of the meeting and was scheduled by the two leaders that had been held a few months earlier, some sources said.
While the focus is expected to be on the situation of Maharashtra after the nationwide youth protests, political coordination and organisational issues in the ruling alliance will also be discussed in bulk.
These Gen Z-backed protests have emerged as a big political challenge for the NDA government. Originally ignited by complaints over alleged unfair conduct of competitive examinations and recruitment processes, the protests have since grown into a wider youth movement for employment opportunities, transparency and governance.
The protests have gained support from opposition parties and have spread to other states and a lot of people in the ruling alliance are worried about the impact on young and first-time voters.
The meeting is also political in light of recent developments in Maharashtra. In a major boost for Shinde’s Shiv Sena camp, six Members of Parliament from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) camp have joined the party.
They are seen as strengthening Shinde’s position in the NDA ahead of possible political contests.
The political shift follows the recent meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the newly joined MPs as well as Shiv Sena parliamentarians. It has been seen as the manifestation of the BJP leadership’s close ties with the Shiv Sena in the state as it prepares for upcoming elections.
Besides political issues, development projects for the constituencies of Shiv Sena MPs would also be discussed. In the present Monsoon session of Parliament, the Centre would like to ensure that infrastructure and welfare projects are still going on in Maharashtra without any delay.
There is also the cabinet expansion that has been in the works for long. No actual announcement has been made but it is thought that the cabinet could be reshuffled or expanded to meet alliance expectations as well as the state’s government and political representation.
Political observers believe this meeting will be an important indicator of the NDA’s strategy for the Gen Z movement and its coordination with alliance partners.
Any decisions taken at the meeting will shape Maharashtra’s political landscape and will influence the coalition’s approach for the next elections.
