BJP, MVA corner Eknath Shinde over Thane coastal road project, want SIT probe

The ruling BJP and the Opposition MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) have joined forces to corner Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde over allegations of corruption linked to the Coastal Road project in Thane.

Despite chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asserting that all is well within the Mahayuti or grand alliance, the political reality paints a different picture as BJP MLAs openly question Shinde’s decisions during his tenure as chief minister.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) awarded a Rs 2,700 crore contract for the creek shoreline project in Thane, which is at the heart of the controversy.

BJP MLA Prasad Lad raised the issue through a starred question in the legislature, alleging that the contract was granted even before the necessary environmental clearances were in place. He questioned the legality of the process, calling for a thorough investigation.

Environment minister Shambhuraj Desai defended the project, claiming that the MMRDA had undertaken the creek side road work with all necessary approvals.

According to Desai, the Thane Municipal Corporation initially prepared a budget of Rs 1,316.18 crore in 2021, seeking administrative clearance from the environment department.

After the MMRDA prepared a detailed project report in 2024, however. the cost escalated to Rs 3,364.62 crore. Desai maintained that the tender process was conducted transparently and without irregularities.

Despite the minister’s clarification, BJP MLAs remained unconvinced and expressed dissatisfaction with the response. Following speaker Ram Shinde’s intervention, Desai was asked to verify the facts through a meeting held in the speaker's chamber.

The political storm continued to brew as BJP MLAs, along with the Opposition, pressed for a special investigation team (SIT) probe to scrutinise the project’s execution and financial dealings.

The unusual alignment between the BJP and the Opposition has raised eyebrows, suggesting cracks within the BJP-led Mahayuti. Political observers speculate that the BJP’s move to target Shinde could hint at a larger power struggle within the ruling coalition, also comprising the Shiv Sena (Ajit Pawar faction) and Shinde's faction of the NCP.

As calls for an SIT probe grow louder, the controversy is set to deepen, adding to the uncertainty within Maharashtra’s political landscape.