Priyanka Tiwari
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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde recently took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray in a dramatic Bollywood fashion. Echoing the famous dialogue from Amitabh Bachchan's film Kaalia, Shinde declared, "Jahan Eknath Shinde khada hota hai, line wahin se shuru hoti hai" (Wherever Eknath Shinde stands, the line begins from there). His remark came in response to the defection of Rajan Salvi, a three-time MLA from the Konkan region, a traditional Shiv Sena stronghold, who left Uddhav's camp to join Shinde’s faction.
Comparing Uddhav to the Sholay Jailer
On this occasion, Shinde not only used Bollywood references but also took a veiled dig at Uddhav Thackeray. Without naming him directly, Shinde likened Uddhav’s leadership to the bumbling jailer played by Asrani in Sholay, remarking, "Half go here, half go there, and the rest follow me. But he doesn’t even know who is behind him." Shinde asserted that rather than blaming defectors, Uddhav should introspect about his party’s declining strength.
‘Operation Tiger’ and Political Shifts
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leaders have recently been discussing what they call ‘Operation Tiger’—a strategy aimed at pulling away Uddhav’s MPs, MLAs, and other senior leaders. The induction of Rajan Salvi into Shinde’s faction is seen as the first major step under this plan.
Salvi, a former MLA from Rajapur in Ratnagiri district, was a Shiv Sena strongman from 2009 to 2024. However, he lost his seat in the November 2024 elections to Kiran Samant, the brother of Industry Minister Uday Samant. Disheartened by his defeat, Salvi blamed internal party politics and, on Wednesday, resigned from his position as Deputy Leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
In his resignation letter to Uddhav, Salvi wrote, "Given the current circumstances and internal politics within the party, I cannot do justice to my position. Taking moral responsibility for my defeat, I am stepping down."
Shinde’s Criticism of Uddhav’s Faction
During a press conference at Anand Ashram, Eknath Shinde criticized Uddhav’s leadership, claiming that internal strife was weakening the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. He also took issue with the remarks made by Uddhav’s party regarding the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Award given to him by veteran leader Sharad Pawar at the 98th All India Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Delhi.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut had accused Shinde of dividing the Shiv Sena and weakening Maharashtra. Responding sharply, Shinde said, "Marathi people should take pride in such awards, but those who dislike me end up disrespecting historical figures, writers, and even Sharad Pawar." Without naming Raut directly, he added, "Pawar displayed culture, while others displayed their small-mindedness."
Konkan’s ‘Cheetah’ Joins Shinde’s Camp
Shinde welcomed Rajan Salvi into his faction, calling him "Konkan ka Cheeta" (the cheetah of Konkan) and reaffirming Shiv Sena’s commitment to the development of the coastal region, which was once Balasaheb Thackeray’s stronghold.
"Shiv Sena is a party of workers. Only those who work hard rise to the top. I always believed Salvi should have been with me, but certain obstacles prevented it. Now, those obstacles are gone," Shinde stated.
Expressing gratitude to Shinde, Salvi called him his political mentor and announced that over 700 workers from Rajapur, Lanja, and Sakharpa had joined the Shiv Sena with him. This shift underscores the growing influence of Shinde’s faction in Maharashtra politics.
In the last Maharashtra Assembly elections, Uddhav’s Shiv Sena (UBT) secured only 20 out of 288 seats, while Shinde’s faction won 57. With continued defections, the political battle between these two camps is only heating up.
