Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.
Credit: PTI Photo
Thane: Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, a confident Eknath Shinde said that the Mahayuti government will return to power comfortably and added that who becomes the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra is not an important issue among the three partners.
The 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls - for the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance - is being held under the leadership of Shinde.
The main goal of the Mahayuti is to keep the Maha Vikas Aghadi away from power, he said.
“Our efforts are to prevent the Maha Vikas Aghadi from coming to power… if they come to power, they will take the state behind by 25 years,” said Shinde about the Opposition coalition comprising the Congress, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
Shinde, who assumed the post of Chief Minister around two-and-a-half-years back after taking command of the Shiv Sena as its chief leader, told DH that the alliance's focus is development and social welfare.
“To me, who becomes the Chief Minister after the elections is not of much importance. The three alliance partners BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP have worked hard. Though we are three different parties, we are on the same page to carry forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Shinde, the 60-year-old politician who rose to the top post from humble beginnings.
After the “uprising” in the Shiv Sena, Shinde said, he never thought that he would become the Chief Minister. “Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave me the opportunity. They repeatedly guided me,” said Shinde about the coalition which has two Deputy Chief Ministers - Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the BJP and Ajit Pawar, who is the NCP President.
“We are all members of one family… we will sit together and decide how to move ahead. We are not like the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, where all of them are eying for the post of Chief Minister,” he added.
Shinde, a 4-time MLA, is contesting the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat in Thane city - even as he is touring across the state addressing rallies for Shiv Sena and the Mahayuti. Shinde faces Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Kedar Dighe, who is the nephew of his mentor ‘Dharmaveer’ Anand Dighe, the late firebrand Shiv Sena leader.
“Whatever I am today is because of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe. I have their blessings. Dighe saheb's nephew Kedar is also contesting the elections. In a democracy, everyone has been given their right to contest elections. They are not my enemies. I wish them all the best,” said Shinde.
Asked about how the 2024 Maharashtra polls are different for him, Shinde said, “Apart from Shiv Sena there are at least six other political parties and some alliances which are contesting the elections. There are several independent candidates also who want to try their luck. That makes a huge lot and that has added spice to the elections. Everybody is eagerly waiting for the outcome. Elections are not new to me. I have been doing both, to contest and win myself as well as help others win. I have been doing this for a long time. But, yes this is the first time that I am contesting and facing the elections with an added responsibility of the Shiv Sena’s chief leader. In that sense, this election is a bit different for me than those I have faced in the past.”
On the allegations that projects from Maharashtra have gone to Gujarat, Shinde denied the claims, saying, "To say that the projects have gone out is a pure lie. On the contrary, they did not start any new industry during their time. Small investments were brought in."
"During the Maha Vikas Aghadi period, there was a speed breaker for all the development works. All were stopped in the name of the Covid pandemic. The investments improved after the Mahayuti government came to power. Foreign investment started coming in on a large scale. Exports also increased. Many big industries started coming,” added Shinde.
When asked about the solution of these issues, Shinde said, “We have been pursuing the development agenda. We want to see a sustainable, quality and all-round development that would bring happiness into the lives of the people. Especially, the yet under-developed areas of the state, small hamlets and even the cities need financial strengthening."
"Employment and self-employment needs a boost. World class infrastructure and good educational institutions are required. Schemes that would make the farmers self-sufficient and the agriculture independent need to be promoted. We are focusing on women empowerment. There are several things that we want to accomplish. We are going to people with what we have done and we are sharing our vision with them as to what we want to accomplish,” he added.
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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