Eknath Shinde Attacks Uddhav Thackeray, Accuses Him Of Betraying Devendra Fadnavis, BJP

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has accused Uddhav Thackeray of betraying Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP alliance during the 2019 assembly elections.

Eknath Shinde compared Uddhav Thackeray to a chameleon, suggesting his political shifts were unpredictable.

During a legislative council session, Shinde responded to the opposition's Last Week Motion by alleging that Thackeray ignored numerous calls from Fadnavis after their alliance retained its majority in 2019. "Maharashtra has never seen a chameleon changing colours so fast," Shinde remarked, referring to Thackeray's decision to ally with Congress after leaving the BJP.

Political Allegations and Accusations

Shinde recalled how he had persuaded Fadnavis to allow Shiv Sena to have Mumbai's mayoral post in 2017, following their civic poll victory. However, he accused Thackeray of betraying Fadnavis by exiting the alliance in 2019. This betrayal remains a point of contention between the two leaders.

In 2022, when Shinde and rebel Sena MLAs camped in Guwahati after opposing Thackeray, he claimed Thackeray sought reconciliation while simultaneously advising BJP leaders in Delhi not to support the rebels. This dual approach further strained relations between them.

Cultural Initiatives and Political Reactions

Shinde also criticised Thackeray for halting plans to start a music school named after Lata Mangeshkar. According to Shinde, Thackeray was upset when the Mangeshkar family awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award. As Chief Minister in 2022, Shinde initiated the music school project himself.

The reminder of Thackeray's alleged betrayal came shortly after his meeting with Maharashtra's Chief Minister. The day before, Fadnavis had humorously invited Thackeray to join the ruling side during a House session. These exchanges highlight ongoing tensions within Maharashtra's political landscape.