Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ramped up his criticism of former CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In a veiled attack during the India Today Conclave, Shinde questioned Thackeray’s approach to leadership, asking, “Is a chief minister’s job only to do Facebook Live?”
While showcasing the achievements of his government at the event, Shinde remarked, “The chief minister himself inspects the cleaning of drains… I have no shame in doing that. The opposition says, ‘Is this the work of a chief minister?’” He went on to criticize the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, stating that a CM’s role is not confined to social media appearances or staying at home. “Is a chief minister’s job to sit at home? Is the role of a CM limited to doing Facebook Live? A chief minister should be out in the field, meeting people,” Shinde added.
The comments come amidst rising speculation about the imminent announcement of Maharashtra assembly election dates, which are expected to be revealed in the second week of October.
Shinde also emphasized his government’s initiative, ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwaar,’ which he claimed has reached 5 crore people. “Our leader Balasaheb Ji used to say that people should not have to come to the ministry; the minister should reach the people. We are doing exactly that,” he stated.
The dig at Thackeray recalls his tenure as CM during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he frequently communicated with the public through Facebook Live sessions. At that time, Uddhav’s online addresses were a subject of criticism from opposition leaders, including Shinde, who was then a minister in Thackeray’s government.
The fallout between Shinde and Thackeray led to Shinde breaking away from the Shiv Sena with the support of several MLAs and aligning with the BJP to form a new government, with Shinde taking over as chief minister.
As the political temperature rises in Maharashtra, Shinde’s remarks indicate a strategy to portray himself as a proactive leader, contrasting with Thackeray’s perceived reliance on virtual platforms. The coming weeks are set to witness intensified political sparring as parties prepare for what promises to be a fiercely contested election.