In a recent development, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance—which was made up of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena (UBT)—was criticized by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for their ‘jode maro’ protest march that they organized after the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Malvan. In the months leading up to the next elections, the incident has become an explosive subject of conversation for politicians in the state, with both sides exchanging acerbic feedback.
MVA’s ‘Jode Maro’ Protest: A Political Move?
The MVA organized the ‘jode maro’ protest march as a way of criticizing the way the current government has dealt with the fall of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue. The MVA is accusing the government of corruption and negligence in the statue’s building, and the protest march has attracted a lot of attention. MVA lawmakers have been vocal in their rebuke of the government, accusing CM Shinde and his backers of disliking the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These individuals include NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray.
Source: times of india
Addressing the protesters, Sharad Pawar criticized CM Shinde’s justification—that the monument collapsed due to strong winds—for the event. Pawar’s criticism is symptomatic of an overall conviction held among MVA leaders that the state government is not doing enough to safeguard the values and icons that Maharashtra’s citizens hold dear. The purpose of the MVA’s example at the Gateway of India, which was chosen as the nation’s symbolic point of entry due to its symbolic significance, was to show their resolve to overthrow the government that they consider to be “illegal” and “Shivdrohi” (a betrayer of Shivaji).
CM Eknath Shinde Hits Back
CM Eknath Shinde reacted to the VMAs’ allegations with a scathing rejoinder. He brushed off the protest as a politically driven media trick intended to attract publicity ahead of the elections. Rather than reacting out of genuine concern for the heritage of the Maratha warrior king, Shinde argued that the MVA utilizes the fall of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue as a pretext for stirring emotions for their political benefit.
The occurrence, as stated by the state’s chief minister, Shinde, is deeply regretful and devastated all Maharashtra’s Shiv followers. He nevertheless commented that the opposition’s reaction was driven more by politics than by preserving Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s honor. Shinde pointed out, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a political issue for us,” emphasizing that the Maratha, the ruler, is vital to Maharashtra’s identity and is not an attempt at politics.
Shinde stated that the Maharashtra people were sick of the VMA’s tactics and that in the forthcoming elections, the people may “jode maro”—that is, assault the MVA with slippers. He continued on to accuse the MVA of creating unnecessary conflict within the state, suggesting that their actions are driven by desperation due to the imminent election defeat.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana Controversy
CM Shinde also addressed the controversy surrounding the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare system intended for helping women from economically impoverished segments of society, adding an additional layer of complexity to the political drama. MVA leaders are disputing the plan in court, saying it is a populist measure designed for influencing voters before the elections.
Shinde defended the plan, stating that the opposition’s attempts to stop it via legal channels reveal their real goals. He asserted that the MVA was shaken by the Ladki Bahin Yojana’s popularity and success, which led them to make an effort to destroy it. Shinde claimed that the opposition was out of touch with the needs of the people and reprimanded them for attempting to politicize the strategy.
Source: The Economic times
The Road Ahead
Deep-seated tensions between the ruling coalition led by Chief Minister Shinde and the opposition MVA have come to light as the election season warmed up, following the demise of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue and the subsequent political tussle. In addition to increasing the rhetoric, the incident has brought out the historical importance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra’s political history.
As they fight for public support, both sides are likely to aggravate things more in the weeks to come, accusing one another of politicizing the subject. The fall of the memorial and social services will become significant issues in the state’s political discourse, and the battle for Maharashtra’s political future will be fought not just in rallies and strikes but also in the courts.
