Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Amid accusations of “stealing” the Shiv Sena and its bow-and-arrow symbol, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that it was he who saved the party when “some people” compromised with the ideals of late Balasaheb Thackeray.
In what was an attack on former Chief Minister and now Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde, the chief leader of Shiv Sena said: "While others attempted to compromise Shiv Sena’s core beliefs, it was Eknath Shinde who safeguarded both the party and the dhanushya-baan.”
"They held the bow and arrow at ransom but we fought to reclaim it, we fought to preserve its honour. Others approached the Election Commission to freeze the symbol, yet we stood firm to keep its sanctity. I was willing to risk everything to ensure Shiv Sainiks’ honour remained intact,” said Shinde while addressing an election rally in his bastion of Thane.
He also took a swipe at the Shiv Sena (UBT), whose election symbol is flaming torch, by saying: “Their torch may not bring revolution—it’s a flame that might ultimately consume them.
“Our Shiv Sainiks are our top priority. When our workers face hardships, it’s the leader’s responsibility to protect them,” he stated.
TheChief Minister added that the Maha Yuti government has removed “roadblocks” left by the Maha Vikas Aghadi, advancing development and welfare initiatives such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which has proven highly successful.
“With five installments already disbursed to beneficiaries, Shinde highlighted his government’s commitment to fulfilling promises, contrasting it with the opposition. The success of Ladki Bahin Yojana has shaken our opponents,” he said.
Shinde emphasized that the 10 commitments announced at the Kolhapur rally represent only a glimpse of Maha Yuti’s vision.
“From increasing pensions for women and the elderly to supporting Anganwadi workers, farmers, and students, we are working to uplift all sections of society. Our government does not discriminate by caste or religion in implementing these initiatives,” he said, highlighting achievements like the toll waiver in Mumbai.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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