Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Talks About His Split with Uddhav Thackeray and Alliance with BJP
New Delhi, India, August 18: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde explained why he parted ways with Uddhav Thackeray in 2022. He said that staying with Thackeray would have broken the party and destroyed its symbol, ‘Dhanushbaan’.
In an interview, Shinde emphasized that a party leader’s job is to support the workers who strengthen the party. He felt that someone else was running the party and trying to finish them. Shinde believed that if the united Shiv Sena had allied with the BJP, their ideology would have been aligned, and the party would have remained united.
Shinde also mentioned that democracy values the majority, and with significant support from MLAs, they kept the party stable. He highlighted their success in recent elections, where Shiv Sena won seven out of thirteen contested places.
When asked about his move to Guwahati after the split, Shinde said it was a strategic decision. He openly communicated with Uddhav Thackeray during this time, despite challenges and threats.
Shinde also spoke about allying with Ajit Pawar-led NCP, attributing it to the development work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He praised Modi’s efforts in moving the country forward, which influenced Ajit Pawar to join the Mahayuti Alliance.
In the recent elections, the INDIA bloc parties won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, with Congress securing 13, Shiv Sena 9, and NCP 8 seats. Ajit Pawar’s NCP won one of the four seats it contested, while Shiv Sena won seven and BJP nine seats.
Doubts Revealed
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in the western part of India. It is known for its capital city, Mumbai, which is the financial hub of the country.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state, similar to a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Eknath Shinde -: Eknath Shinde is a politician in India who became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2022. He is a member of the Shiv Sena party.
Uddhav Thackeray -: Uddhav Thackeray is another politician in Maharashtra. He was the Chief Minister before Eknath Shinde and is also a member of the Shiv Sena party.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India, known for its nationalistic policies.
Guwahati -: Guwahati is a city in the northeastern part of India, in the state of Assam. It is known for its temples and the Brahmaputra River.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India. He is the leader of the BJP and has been in office since 2014.
Ajit Pawar -: Ajit Pawar is a politician in Maharashtra. He is a member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and has held various important positions in the state government.
Mahayuti Alliance -: The Mahayuti Alliance is a coalition of political parties in Maharashtra, including the BJP and other regional parties. They work together to win elections and govern the state.
INDIA bloc -: The INDIA bloc is a group of opposition parties in India that have come together to challenge the ruling party in elections. It stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
Lok Sabha -: The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s Parliament. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the people to make laws and decisions for the country.