top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 4:59:11 pm

Fadnavis reins in Sena’s Marathi push

AI generated image Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra is witnessing a delicate political balancing act, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis increasingly overriding key decisions of alliance partners, particularly the Shiv Sena, while simultaneously attempting to placate them on other fronts. The tension within the alliance came to the fore on Thursday when Fadnavis stepped in to dilute a controversial mandate enforced by Shiv Sena Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, which...

Fadnavis reins in Sena’s Marathi push

AI generated image Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra is witnessing a delicate political balancing act, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis increasingly overriding key decisions of alliance partners, particularly the Shiv Sena, while simultaneously attempting to placate them on other fronts. The tension within the alliance came to the fore on Thursday when Fadnavis stepped in to dilute a controversial mandate enforced by Shiv Sena Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, which required auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai to possess basic Marathi language proficiency. The Transport Department’s enforcement drive, which threatened non-Marathi-speaking drivers with suspension or cancellation of their licences, sparked outrage among North Indian drivers who form a sizeable section of the public transport workforce in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Protests brought parts of Mumbai, including Kandivali and Malad, to a standstill. Recognising the potential electoral fallout, Fadnavis intervened, saying drivers need not be “experts” in Marathi. He also extended the grace period for drivers to acquire a working knowledge of the language to one year, effectively diluting Sarnaik’s hardline stance. Fadnavis announced the decision after a delegation of transport operators met him. The episode highlights the conflicting political compulsions of the Mahayuti partners. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is keen to pursue a pro-Marathi, “sons of the soil” agenda to consolidate its traditional voter base and counter the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP, however, relies heavily on North Indian and migrant voters in the MMR, particularly as crucial civic and state elections approach. Any aggressive regional policy that alienates this constituency could have electoral consequences for the party. The Marathi language issue is not an isolated instance of Fadnavis stepping in to override decisions associated with the Shiv Sena. It fits into a broader pattern of the chief minister’s administration reviewing or reversing several initiatives of the previous government headed by Shinde. In April 2026, the BJP-led Environment Department, headed by Minister Pankaja Munde, scrapped 14 lake conservation projects, 11 of which had been cleared during Shinde’s tenure, and ordered recovery of more than Rs 73 crore. The Fadnavis government has also modified several initiatives introduced by the previous regime. In January 2025, it altered Shinde’s three-course school meal plan, placing the responsibility on local school management committees to raise funds for sweet dishes. In April 2025, the government scrapped the ‘One State, One Uniform’ policy for schools. A Rs 3,200-crore tender for mechanised housekeeping services at government hospitals, issued under the Shinde government, was also stayed. Yet, Fadnavis remains conscious of the need to preserve the fragile alliance. To manage growing resentment within the Sena, he has adopted what can be described as a ‘blow hot, blow cold’ approach — overriding decisions when they clash with the BJP’s broader political interests while offering political concessions on other fronts. One such move was the recent appointment of Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogawale as Guardian Minister of the politically important Raigad district, ending a 19-month-long tussle over the post. At the same time, the Mahayuti government recently reduced the powers exercised by Guardian Ministers over District Planning Committee (DPC) funds, directing that 70 per cent of the funds be allocated directly to local MLAs. The move is aimed at reducing the concentration of financial powers with individual ministers. As the Mahayuti navigates these competing interests, Fadnavis has also instructed alliance partners to resolve disputes internally and avoid public sparring. However, the latest confrontation over the Marathi language requirement underscores the limits of that arrangement. While Fadnavis continues to use his authority to protect the BJP’s broader electoral interests, the Shiv Sena remains under pressure to assert its regional identity and distinguish itself from the Thackeray faction. With elections approaching, balancing these competing political priorities is likely to remain one of the biggest challenges for the Mahayuti government.

Wings of Deterrence

Manila’s billion-dollar fighter jet purchase signals a new chapter in US’ security strategy amid China’s maritime assertiveness.

The United States’ decision to approve the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, valued at $5.58 billion marks a defining moment in the evolving security architecture of the Indo-Pacific. Manila, long reliant on outdated hardware and a weak deterrence posture, is finally embracing a stronger air force capable of countering Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and preparing for contingencies in Taiwan’s defence.


The deal signals Washington’s determination to bolster its oldest ally in Asia against Beijing’s growing assertiveness. More tellingly, it coincides with urgent calls from the Filipino military leadership to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.


Alongside these jets comes an arsenal of guided bombs, Sidewinder missiles, and radar systems that will modernize the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The State Department justified the sale on strategic grounds, citing Manila’s role in maintaining regional stability. The message seems to be that Washington wants a more capable Philippines to deter Chinese aggression - both in the South China Sea and, potentially, in Taiwan’s defence.


The U.S.-Philippines alliance, forged in the crucible of the Second World War and strengthened during the Cold War, has always been strategic. Throughout the 20th century, Washington viewed the Philippines as a crucial foothold in the Pacific, hosting major U.S. military bases at Clark and Subic Bay until nationalist sentiment forced their closure in the 1990s. Yet, even after their departure, security cooperation endured, driven first by counterterrorism efforts in the post-9/11 era and now by shared concerns over China’s regional ambitions.


This latest weapons deal is part of a broader realignment. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Manila has sought deeper security ties with Washington, reversing his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s flirtation with Beijing. Recent years have seen joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises expand, new defence pacts signed, and even discussions about granting U.S. forces rotational access to key Philippine bases. The return of F-16s to the archipelago after decades of reliance on aging South Korean FA-50 fighters suggests the Philippines is once again embracing its role as a frontline U.S. ally.


For Beijing, the F-16 sale represents a provocation. China has spent years tightening its grip over the South China Sea, transforming reefs into militarized islands and deploying coast guard and naval forces to intimidate rival claimants, including the Philippines.


Confrontations have escalated, from water cannon skirmishes near Second Thomas Shoal to shadowing of Philippine naval vessels. The acquisition of F-16s enhances Manila’s ability to contest these waters, particularly with improved maritime domain awareness and enemy air defence suppression capabilities.


Yet, the bigger geopolitical shift may lie beyond the South China Sea. General Romeo Brawner, the Filipino military chief, has urged his forces to prepare for a Chinese attack on Taiwan, a scenario that would almost certainly draw in the United States. The Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan makes it a critical player in any conflict, serving as a potential launching pad for U.S. military operations.


For all its strategic merit, the F-16 deal does not instantly transform the Philippines into a military heavyweight. The country still lacks the naval and air defence infrastructure to fully utilize such advanced fighters. Its fleet is small, its air force underfunded, and its military stretched thin by insurgencies in the south. The transition to F-16s will take time, and without sustained investment in training, logistics, and operational readiness, Manila risks acquiring high-tech weapons without the means to deploy them effectively.


Nonetheless, this sale sends a message that the era of American complacency in Southeast Asia is over. Washington has learned from the failures of the past decade, when China’s rapid militarization of the South China Sea was met with little resistance. By reinforcing Manila, the U.S. is redrawing the military balance of the Indo-Pacific. The next time Chinese ships test Philippine resolve, they may find a more formidable force staring back.

Comments

bottom of page