Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday launched a scathing attack on Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde accused Uddhav Thackeray of betraying his ally Devendra Fadnavis in 2019.
Eknath Shinde vs Uddhav Thackeray: The politics of Maharashtra has once again become embroiled in a verbal battle between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray. Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday directly attacked Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Accusing Uddhav of betraying the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis in 2019, Shinde called him a 'leader who changes colors faster than a chameleon'.
This statement comes at a time when Uddhav Thackeray recently met the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and just a day before, Fadnavis taunted the house, inviting Uddhav to join the ruling party. After this whole episode, there has been a stir in the politics of Maharashtra again.
Shinde's Sharp Taunt: Never Saw a Chameleon Change Color So Quickly
While responding to a resolution by the opposition in the Legislative Council, Shinde targeted Uddhav Thackeray without naming him. He said, in the 2019 assembly elections, the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP alliance won a clear majority. Despite this, Fadnavis called Uddhav Thackeray 40 to 50 times, but he did not respond even once.
Shinde further said, Maharashtra has never seen a chameleon change color so quickly. He went with the same people whom he used to call lowly and unacceptable from public platforms. Shinde's اشاره was clearly towards Uddhav Thackeray breaking ties with the BJP and forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance with the Congress and NCP.
The Story of the Mumbai Mayor's Post Also Repeated
Eknath Shinde also mentioned the 2017 Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. He said that when there was a close contest between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Fadnavis agreed to give the post of Mayor to Shiv Sena at his behest. The BJP won 82 seats and the Shiv Sena won 84 seats, yet Devendra Fadnavis, at my request, supported the Shiv Sena for the post of Mayor of Mumbai. But in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray betrayed him by exiting the alliance.
Shinde also mentioned his rebellion in 2022. He claimed that when he and the MLAs who went with him were camping in Guwahati, Uddhav Thackeray made efforts to reconcile. Thackeray ji contacted me and said that come back, we will sort everything out. At the same time, he was also going to Delhi and telling the BJP leadership not to support our rebel faction.
What is the political message of Shinde's statement?
Eknath Shinde's statement has come at a time when the buzz for the assembly elections next year has started in Maharashtra. Various speculations are being made about Uddhav Thackeray's recent activism and meeting with the Chief Minister. Just a day before, Fadnavis taunted the house and said that Uddhav Thackeray can come to the ruling party if he wants.
Through this statement, the BJP and the Shinde faction want to send a message that Uddhav Thackeray can change his stand at any time for power. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance had won a majority. But after the election, Shiv Sena accused the BJP of reneging on the promise regarding the post of Chief Minister and broke the alliance. After this, Uddhav Thackeray formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in alliance with the Congress and NCP.
