A political blame game erupted between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over a power-sharing agreement supposedly discussed in 2019. Thackeray claims that Fadnavis, the then-chief minister, assured him that his son Aaditya Thackeray would become the next chief minister, while Fadnavis would join the Union cabinet in Delhi. These claims come amid ongoing political friction in Maharashtra, following the collapse of the Thackeray-led MVA government in June 2022.
During a rally in Mumbai’s Antop Hill for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Anil Desai, Thackeray alleged that ahead of the 2019 polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis visited his residence, Matoshree, where the power-sharing agreement was discussed. According to Thackeray, Shah agreed to share the chief minister position for 2.5 years. He further claimed that the promise was made in the late Balasaheb Thackeray’s room, which holds significant religious importance for the Thackeray family.
Responding to these allegations, Devendra Fadnavis denied making any such promise, criticizing Uddhav Thackeray for making false statements. He described Thackeray’s claims as “delirious” and “hallucinating,” stating that the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader is trying to cover one lie with another. He also posted on social media, emphasizing that Balasaheb Thackeray was always true to his word, unlike his son, who deviated from his father’s ideals.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also commented on the controversy, accusing Thackeray of lying to justify his actions. Shinde suggested that Thackeray’s desire to become chief minister led to the Shiv Sena’s split and subsequent alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress party after the 2019 assembly elections. Shinde’s faction, after breaking away from the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, ultimately formed the government with the BJP in June 2022, leading to Thackeray’s removal as chief minister.
The ongoing political conflict in Maharashtra reflects deep-seated tensions between factions within the Shiv Sena and their former allies in the BJP, with the blame game showing no signs of easing.
