Rahul Gandhi effect? Why Maharashtra BJP is moving to keep Mahayuti united

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (ANI/PTI Photos) 6 min readMumbaiAug 26, 2026 02:36 PM IST First published on: Aug 26, 2026 at 07:16 AM IST The BJP in Maharashtra has begun an effort to mend fences with its Mahayuti allies – Shiv Sena and the NCP – with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convening a coordination committee meeting on Monday, which was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar. Sources said the move comes days after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj programme in Pune, which drew a strong response from students. “It has prompted the BJP to take note of his growing appeal among the younger generation,” a source said.