Ravindra Chavan and Eknath Shinde share stage in Dombivli after intense poaching war; signs of truce emerge in Kalyan Lok Sabha

KALYAN: After weeks of escalating tensions between the BJP and Shiv Sena in the politically sensitive Kalyan Lok Sabha region, a major development took place on Saturday. Maharashtra BJP President Ravindra Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Kalyan MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde shared the stage together at the Bhoomi Pujan of a ₹180-crore multi purpose sports complex, war memorial and several other projects in Dombivli, signalling a possible pause in the ongoing political conflict.A day earlier, during a press conference in Sindhudurg, Chavan had openly addressed the friction within the Mahayuti alliance. He had said that accusations during elections were natural but stressed that the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP had been functioning well together for the past year. Chavan revealed that he had spoken with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who urged that the issue should not escalate further. He added that all senior leaders—Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and himself—would soon meet to put an end to the tensions.Before this, the conflict had peaked in the Kalyan Lok Sabha area—considered the stronghold of Shiv Sena. The tension intensified especially in the KDMC region. Since becoming BJP’s state president, Chavan had been aggressively working to strengthen the party’s presence in Kalyan-Dombivli, aiming to secure the mayoral post in the upcoming KDMC elections and boost BJP’s position for the Lok Sabha polls.In the past month alone, Chavan had inducted several former Shiv Sena corporators and office-bearers into the BJP.

In retaliation, Shiv Sena also started bringing BJP corporators into their fold. This tit-for-tat poaching battle created deep friction between the two alliance partners.Shrikant Shinde was determined to keep Kalyan Lok Sabha a Sena bastion, while Chavan was equally focused on expanding BJP’s influence—resulting in open disagreements. The Shinde camp was particularly upset when BJP continued inducting Sena leaders even after Shinde had complained directly to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.However, the atmosphere at Saturday’s event told a different story. Chavan, Eknath Shinde, and Dr. Shrikant Shinde were seen interacting warmly. The father-son duo spoke to Chavan with visible ease, and Chavan too appeared cheerful, suggesting that both sides may have decided to temporarily halt the hostilities—especially after Chavan’s public statement calling for peace.During their speeches, all three leaders focused on development work carried out by the Mahayuti government.Speaking to media, Dr. Shrikant Shinde said,“The next Mayor of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation will definitely be from the Mahayuti.”“I do the politics of development.”. These remarks aimed to reassure party workers and signal that, despite internal tensions, Mahayuti remains united and committed to forward-looking governance.Interestingly, none of the leaders made any sharp remarks or indirect jibes at each other—a notable shift given the recent heated political climate.Their friendly interactions—smiling, talking freely, and avoiding criticism—have sparked speculation about whether the battle between the Shinde faction and Chavan has finally cooled down. With both sides sharing a stage harmoniously after weeks of tension, political observers believe that the Mahayuti leadership may have decided to draw a temporary curtain over the dispute.