BJP and Congress Wary as Rival Shiv Senas Clash Over Mumbai Auto and Taxi Rules
In Mumbai, a political dispute between rival Shiv Sena factions over regulations governing auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers has left their respective alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, wary and attempting a balancing act.
The friction intensified after the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena introduced a compulsory Marathi rule for auto and taxi drivers across the city. At the same time, the Shiv Sena (UBT) entered the conflict by mounting opposition to the operation of bike taxis.
Political observers noted that the auto-rickshaw and taxi sector has emerged as a major new battleground where both Sena factions are competing to score political points and appeal directly to Marathi voters.
The Shinde Sena's push for the compulsory Marathi diktat is seen as a strategic move to take on both the Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on the traditional 'Marathi manoos' platform. This plank had previously been used to dent the Shinde Sena in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Consequently, both factions have engaged in sharp competition to secure Marathi support through policies targeting public transport operators.
However, these initiatives are causing strain within the ruling and opposition alliances. The BJP, which is allied with the Shinde Sena, is particularly unhappy with the new Marathi requirement and the broader disruption to traditional transport services. Observers pointed out that the BJP enjoys substantial political backing from migrant auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, many of whom hail from North India.
The mandatory Marathi directive, combined with the impact of bike taxis on the conventional auto and taxi business, has directly affected these drivers. Because many of the affected operators are North Indian BJP supporters, the policy has created significant discomfort for the party.
As both Shiv Sena factions continue to push their respective agendas within the city's transport sector, their coalition partners, the BJP and the Congress, remain cautious while trying to maintain their broader political balance.
