Pawar felicitating Shinde certifies him as the better CM, Maha Yuti tells a fuming Uddhav faction

Mumbai: The rift within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi came out in open after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s confidante Sanjay Raut launched a no-holds-barred attack on NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar for felicitating Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. 

Raut is considered close to Pawar and his outburst against the four-time Maharashtra CM and three-time union minister, who is the architect of MVA, has raised eyebrows in Maharashtra's political circles. 

The MVA, representing the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc in Maharashtra, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) and some smaller groups and parties, seems to be turning into a fragmented house post the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls which they lost very badly. 

On Tuesday evening, Pawar felicitated Shinde with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar in the presence of Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on the occasion of the 98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in New Delhi. 

The function was organised by the Pune-based social and educational organisation -- Sarhad. 

Pune’s BJP MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol was also present. 

In fact, ever since the award was announced the information went out that Pawar would present the award to Shinde, the former CM, who toppled his MVA government with the help of BJP in June-July 2022. 

On Wednesday morning, hours after the award, Raut launched a scathing attack at Pawar and the organisers. 

"Certain things should be avoided in politics...Pawar saheb felicitated Shinde…who had betrayed and split Shiv Sena…in fact, Pawar did not felicitate Shinde, but he felicitated (union home minister and BJP’s chief strategist) Amit Shah. This is our feeling….Giving such an honour to someone we consider an enemy of Maharashtra is a jolt to Maharashtra's pride,” said Raut.

“You (Pawar) are a senior politician, and we respect you…but this has not gone down well within the people of Maharashtra,” the journalist-politician and Rajya Sabha member said. 

"We don't understand your Delhi politics, but we too understand politics…This is not sahitya sammelan but political dalali,” said Raut.

On his part, Shinde said that there is life beyond politics. "I had never confined myself to politics. That is the reason I could become the CM," the deputy CM said.

Nothing wrong: NCP (SP)

NCP (SP) MP Dr Amol Kohle said that there is nothing wrong in Pawar presenting an award to Shinde. “I feel it is Raut’s personal opinion,” the Shirur MP said. “Pawar saheb showed statesmanship, where one does not bring politics into everything.I don't think there is anything wrong with that. He is the president of the event (reception committee)," Dr Kolhe added.

The End of MVA: Shiv Sena 

The current Uddhav Thackeray-Sharad Pawar rift marks the end of the MVA, Shiv Sena spokesperson and state’s social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat indicated. “Its over…its ‘The End’ of the Maha Vikas Aghadi…this is the final chapter,” said Shirsat, who is a close aide of Shinde.

“There are certain things which are beyond politics…Raut finds politics everywhere,” he said. Besides, Shirsat wondered if Thackeray is okay with everything that Raut said. “I am pretty sure that  Uddhav ji would not be liking Raut’s statements…kuch to hai (there must be something) that he tolerates him… had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive he would have kicked Raut out of the party…the Shiv Sena (UBT) is sinking,” he said.

Its certificate by Pawar to Shinde: BJP

Reacting to the development, state BJP president and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the felicitation of Shinde by Pawar is a sort of certificate that he is a better CM than Thackeray.

“For two-and-a-half years, Thackeray was CM but he came to the Mantralaya only twice, however, on the other hand, Shinde, while he was CM worked for 22 hours every day,” he said, adding that there is nothing wrong in the felicitation.

“Raut is rattled as Shinde has been given award…Raut doesn’t understand the culture of Maharashtra. Until now, I felt that he used to discuss things in press conferences by taking Sharad Pawar's analysis and guidance. But now, I feel that Pawar is being given guidance,” he said.