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Maharashtra BJP MLA Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar has pledged his entire annual honorarium to assist with drought relief efforts in Latur district. The former state minister announced the contribution via a video message released on Dussehra, Tuesday, citing severe water scarcity affecting rural communities. Nilangekar, who represents the Nilanga assembly constituency, stated that the funds would primarily secure drinking water supplies, arrange water tankers, and provide fodder for livestock at cattle camps. He described the situation as immense, urging all sections of society to contribute in whatever way possible to support drought-affected residents. Farmers in the region currently struggle to find adequate water for consumption and to sustain their animals, prompting the legislator to take what he termed the first step toward addressing the crisis. While Nilangekar focused on immediate humanitarian aid, other political developments in Maharashtra centered on the internal dynamics of the ruling coalition. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, a senior leader in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, declared on Tuesday that the party aims to increase its legislative strength before the next Assembly election in 2029. Sarnaik stated that every member of the party desires to see Shinde return as chief minister. He acknowledged that the current numerical strength does not support such a shift, noting that Shinde serves as deputy chief minister under the current arrangement. Sarnaik asserted that the party will work to win more seats in future polls to facilitate Shinde’s return to the top post. This statement follows similar comments by Water Resources Minister Gulabrao Patil, who recently described the desire for Shinde to become chief minister again as the sentiment of party legislators. These remarks occur nearly two years after the November 2024 Assembly elections. In that vote, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 132 of the 288 seats. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 57 seats, while the faction led by the late Ajit Pawar won 41 seats. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance retained power, and Devendra Fadnavis assumed the role of chief minister. Shinde and Pawar initially served as deputies. Following Pawar’s death in a plane crash in Baramati, his wife Sunetra Pawar took the oath as deputy chief minister. Shiv Sena leader Sachin Ahir offered a contrasting view, arguing that Shinde need not wait for increased numbers and could assume the chief ministerial role immediately. However, officials clarified that Sarnaik’s comments do not constitute a formal demand or decision by the alliance leadership to change the chief minister. Simultaneously, the two rival factions of the Shiv Sena prepared to hold separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai, highlighting the continued division within the organization. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) planned to gather at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar, a venue historically associated with the party’s founding. Bal Thackeray held the party’s first public meeting there on October 30, 1966. The site remained central to the party’s identity until the 2022 split. In contrast, Eknath Shinde’s faction chose the NESCO Center and Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon for its event. Political analysts noted that the Shinde faction did not apply for Shivaji Park this year, accepting the BMC’s grant of the venue solely to the UBT faction. A Mumbai-based political analyst suggested that Shinde’s acceptance of a different venue reflects that major institutional battles over party symbols have already been resolved in his favor. The rivalry extends beyond venue selection to legislative representation. In the 2024 elections, Shinde’s faction won 57 seats, whereas Uddhav’s faction captured 20 seats. Shinde, who previously served as chief minister from 2022 to 2024, leads the faction recognized by the Election Commission of India as the official Shiv Sena. Despite holding the government and greater legislative numbers, the Shinde faction has ceded the traditional rally ground to its rivals. Analysts observe that the contest over Shivaji Park has cooled because the broader institutional questions regarding party ownership were settled in Shinde’s favor shortly after the split. Tensions within the ruling alliance also surfaced through financial disputes. A Shiv Sena leader criticized claims made by Jarange and Patil regarding a sum of Rs 500 crore, questioning how many zeros comprised the amount. This exchange occurred against a backdrop of ongoing negotiations and clarifications sought from Shinde, the deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief. The leader’s remarks underscored the scrutiny facing the alliance’s financial commitments. Meanwhile, in Latur, the practical impact of the drought continues to weigh on local populations. Nilangekar’s pledge aims to alleviate some of this pressure, though he emphasized that individual contributions, however small, are necessary given the scale of the emergency. The focus remains on securing basic necessities for those displaced or affected by the lack of water resources in the district.