'Don't take me lightly', says Eknath Shinde amid rift rumours with Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde warned his detractors against taking him lightly amid speculation of a widening chasm between the Shiv Sena chief and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shinde, who has been skipping meetings called by Fadnavis, asserted that he overturned the incumbent government when he was taken lightly in 2022, referring to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA regime.

The remark came after Fadnavis put on hold a Rs 900 crore project in Jalna that was approved during Shinde's tenure as Chief Minister. An investigation has also been ordered amid questions regarding the project's validity and the intentions behind Shinde's approval.

Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "I am a normal party worker, but I am also a worker of Bala Saheb and everyone should understand this. When I was taken lightly in 2022, I overturned the incumbent



government."

In 2022, Shinde's rebellion with 40 MLAs triggered a split in the Shiv Sena and brought down the curtains on the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. He later formed the government with the BJP and was made the Chief Minister.

However. Shinde had to make way for Fadnavis for the top post after the BJP's strong performance in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls, where it won 132 of the 230 seats grabbed by the Mahayuti alliance. Speculation has been rife since then that Shinde is sulking on being denied the top post.

In cryptic remarks, Shinde further said, "In my first speech in the Vidhan Sabha, I said that Devendra Fadnavis ji would get more than 200 seats, and we got 232 seats. That is why do not take me lightly. The people for whom it is intended will understand it."

The Shinde Sena has 57 MLAs in the Assembly, while Ajit Pawar's NCP faction has 41.