Eknath Shinde slams Uddhav Thackeray after Mahayuti’s win in Maharashtra: 'Answered criticism with work'

Chief Minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde hit out at his rival Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday (Nov 23) as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set for a landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shinde pointed towards the Shiv Sena’s improved performance. “In 2019, 54 Shiv Sena candidates had won. Now the number has gone up,” he said.

'We answered criticism with work'

Shinde credited the alliance’s success to their work-focused approach, contrasting it with their critics. “We did not answer criticism with criticism. We answered it with work. And that is what appealed to the people. All of us would work with the people. You cannot run the government by being in your home. You have to go to the people,”he added.

He also reiterated his commitment to the vision of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. “We will carry on the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray and form this government. A similar government should have been formed in 2019, but it was not. And people haven't forgotten that,” Shinde stated.

Shinde retained the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat in Thane district, defeating Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe by a margin of 1,20,717 votes.

Mahayuti alliance's landslide victory

The Mahayuti alliance is on course to secure over 220 of the 288 assembly seats, leaving the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) far behind. According to the Election Commission's latest figures, the BJP had won 55 seats and was leading in 78, while the Shiv Sena had secured 28 seats and was ahead in 28 more. The NCP had won 25 seats and was leading in 16 constituencies.

Shinde’s rise to power

Shinde’s stint in power followed his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, who was then the chief minister in the MVA-led government. Shinde, along with 40 MLAs, broke away from the Shiv Sena. Thackeray resigned before a floor test, leading to the collapse of the coalition.

On 30 June 2022, Shinde took over as chief minister, with Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as his deputy. Last year, Ajit Pawar also split the NCP and joined Shinde’s government as a second deputy chief minister.

(With inputs from agencies)