Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Reveals Plans to Arrest Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 18: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has disclosed that the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had planned to arrest Devendra Fadnavis, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shinde, in an interview, stated that when he objected to the plan, the MVA government also considered arresting him.

Allegations by IPS Officer Paramveer Singh

Shinde mentioned that IPS officer Paramveer Singh had alleged that the MVA government, under then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, wanted to arrest both Fadnavis and Shinde. Shinde expressed his sadness over these plans, which he believed were intended to weaken the BJP and potentially cause its MLAs to join the MVA.

Denial of Z Plus Security

Shinde also revealed that Anil Deshmukh had denied him Z plus security despite life threats from Naxalites in Gadchiroli. Shinde, who was the Minister for Urban Development at the time, had passed resolutions for developing Gadchiroli, which led to the threats. Despite recommendations from intelligence and security forces, Deshmukh refused to provide the necessary security.

Interference by Thackeray’s Family

Shinde stated that members of Uddhav Thackeray’s family interfered in his office work during the MVA regime. Although Thackeray, as Chief Minister, had the right to interfere, Shinde found it unfair that his family members were also involved. He complained about this interference, but Thackeray’s behavior became strange, according to Shinde.

Government’s Work During COVID-19

Shinde emphasized that effective governance requires face-to-face communication with people. He criticized the previous government for relying on social media and working from home. Shinde highlighted his own efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including visiting hospitals and interacting with people directly.

Strength of the BJP-Led Government

Shinde asserted that despite predictions of its collapse, the BJP-led Mahayuti government remains strong. He pointed to various development projects, such as the Samruddhi Mahamarg and Atal Setu, which were completed under his administration. Shinde also mentioned the resumption of metro work and other projects that had been halted by the previous government.

Lok Sabha Election Results

Discussing the Lok Sabha election results, Shinde noted that the core voters of the Shiv Sena have shifted from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction. He claimed that the votes received by the UBT were primarily from minorities and were temporary. Shinde highlighted the Mahayuti alliance’s strong performance, winning 7 out of 13 contested seats.

The INDIA bloc parties won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, with Congress securing 13, Shiv Sena-UBT 9, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) 8. Ajit Pawar’s NCP won one of the four seats it contested, while Shiv Sena won seven and BJP won nine seats.