Eknath Shinde 'cried' at Matoshree before rebellion: Aaditya Thackeray

Aaditya’s statement was backed by leaders like Sanjay Raut, Ambadas Danve, as well as with Baramati MP Supriya Sule

In a statement that sparked off a political hailstorm in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray claimed that current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, before he rebelled, went to Matoshree and cried.

“He had come to Matoshree (to meet then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray) before joining hands with the BJP and cried…..he said that he would be arrested by central agencies if he didn't ally with the BJP,” Aaditya claimed during an interactive session.

Aaditya’s statement came at a function of the GITAM Deemed University in Hyderabad.

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Later in Mumbai, Aaditya gave the date as 20 May when Shinde came to meet Uddhav, then Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President.

In Mumbai, Shinde had dismissed the claim. “…leave it…he is just a kid,” Shinde, the Chief Leader of Shiv Sena, said when reporters sought his reactions on Aaditya’s statement.

In June-2022, Shinde had joined hands with BJP and toppled the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which was running the state for two-and-a-half-years.

The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP saffron alliance has reacted sharply to Aaditya’s statement.

“Who is he?…he is childish,” Union MSME Minister and senior BJP leader Narayan Rane said.

State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said: “Shinde is a person who does not cry…he is ever smiling.”

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“This is not true,” added Marathi Language Minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar. "Uddhav saheb had himself said that he had called Shinde and asked whether he wants to the Chief Minister after which there were tears in his eyes...what he (Aaditya) saying is false...there are people who teach him how to tell a lie."

Aaditya’s statement was backed by Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut and Leader of Opposition in the Council Ambadas Danve, both from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

“This is 100 per cent true…Shinde had told me the same thing. I tried to make him understand. But the fear of jail was clearly visible on his face. What Aaditya said is correct,” said Raut.

“Aaditya is a cultured boy…he would not speak anything that is not true,” said Sule.