Amid growing tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling alliance, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde issued a stern warning to his critics on Friday, cautioning them not to “underestimate” him.
Eknath Shinde, recalling his revolt against Uddhav Thackeray within the Shiv Sena, stated that he brought down the state government in 2022 when he was “underestimated.”
“Do not take me lightly; I have already said this to those who have taken me lightly. I am a normal party worker, but I am a worker of Bala Saheb, and everyone should take me with this understanding. When you took it lightly in 2022, I changed the government; we brought the government of the wishes of the common people,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Eknath Shinde has reportedly been absent from meetings called by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, sparking rumors of a rift, according to India Today. Additionally, he has been avoiding sharing the stage with the BJP leader.
Shinde’s rebellion in 2022 resulted in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray government and a major split within the Shiv Sena. He subsequently forged an alliance with the BJP and assumed the role of Maharashtra’s chief minister. However, following the BJP’s strong performance in the recent assembly elections, Shinde was compelled to step down from the chief minister’s post in favor of Devendra Fadnavis.
Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has 57 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP holds 41 seats. The BJP, meanwhile, commands a majority with 132 seats.
In a cryptic statement, Shinde cautioned that those who underestimate him must “take this hint into consideration.”
“In my first speech in the Vidhan Sabha, I said that Devendra Fadnavis ji would get more than 200 seats, and we got 232 seats. That is why do not take me lightly; those who want to understand this hint, they should understand it, and I will continue doing my work,” Shinde said.
Shinde also addressed the death threat he recently received, responding to the alarming situation.
“Threats have come before too. There were many threats when the dance bar was closed. There were threats to kill me, and attempts were made, but I was not afraid. The Naxalites had threatened me, but I did not give in to their threats… I did the work of starting the first industrial project in Gadchiroli,” he said.
On Thursday, Shinde received a death threat via email. In response, the Mumbai police arrested two individuals from Buldhana in connection with the threat.
