Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the state BJP convention in Shirdi on Sunday, took a strong stance against the veteran political figures Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, accusing them of engaging in deceitful political tactics that have destabilized Maharashtra for decades. Shah claimed that Pawar's politics of betrayal, which began in 1978, was decisively rejected by the people of Maharashtra in the 2024 assembly elections, marking a turning point in the state's political landscape.
According to Shah, Sharad Pawar, who went on to form the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), initiated a legacy of "daga-patka" (betrayal) in 1978 when he split from the Vasantdada Patil government and took 40 MLAs with him to assume the position of Chief Minister. Shah emphasized that Pawar’s long history of treachery had finally reached its conclusion in the 2024 elections when the people of Maharashtra chose stability and progress over dynastic and divisive politics. The BJP's overwhelming victory, Shah argued, proved that the people no longer supported the politics of betrayal and instead sided with parties like the Shiv Sena (the "real" Shiv Sena, aligned with the BJP) and the NCP that prioritized public welfare over personal and familial agendas.
Shah further asserted that this election result also marked the end of a period of political instability in Maharashtra that had persisted for nearly half a century. The roots of this instability, Shah claimed, could be traced back to 1978 when Sharad Pawar’s maneuvering led to the formation of a fractured political environment in the state. The current BJP-led government in Maharashtra, according to Shah, symbolizes the triumph of stability and the end of divisive politics that had plagued the state for decades.
The Union Home Minister then turned his focus to Uddhav Thackeray, highlighting the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's decision to sever ties with the BJP after the 2019 assembly elections over the issue of the Chief Minister’s post. Shah criticized Thackeray’s "betrayal," suggesting that the rift in the Shiv Sena, which led to its split and the formation of Shiv Sena (UBT), was yet another example of political opportunism. He also referred to the public rejection of dynastic politics by the voters in 2024, claiming that the people had sent both Pawar and Thackeray “home” and ensured that the BJP, along with its allies, had emerged victorious in the state elections.
Shah praised the BJP workers for their tireless efforts in securing the party’s success, calling them the true architects of the victory. He emphasized the importance of continuing to strengthen the party at every level, from grassroots to national leadership. Shah called on BJP workers to bolster the party at the booth level, which he considered the foundation for the party's future victories. He also urged the inclusion of women, farmers, and marginalized groups in the party’s fold to ensure its continued dominance in Maharashtra and across India.
Furthermore, Shah took the opportunity to criticize Sharad Pawar for his tenure as Chief Minister, asserting that despite holding significant positions in the state and at the national level, including heading various cooperative institutions and serving as Union Minister of Agriculture, he had failed to address key issues such as farmer suicides. Shah claimed that the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, had implemented far-reaching reforms and welfare schemes for farmers, contrasting these efforts with Pawar’s perceived inaction on the issue.
On a national level, Shah outlined several of the BJP’s key achievements under Prime Minister Modi, including the relocation of Ram Lalla from a temporary tent to a grand temple after 550 years, the historic abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the successful eradication of terrorism in the region. Shah also reiterated the BJP’s pledge to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, as part of its broader vision to ensure peace and stability in India.
Addressing the opposition, Shah took aim at the fragmented "INDIA" alliance, which includes more than two dozen opposition parties. He claimed that the recent election results had dealt a major blow to the confidence of the opposition, signaling the beginning of its decline. Shah pointed to the growing rifts between key opposition parties like Congress and their allies in states such as Delhi, West Bengal, Bihar, and Maharashtra, predicting that the opposition alliance was on the verge of falling apart due to internal conflicts and lack of unity.
Shah expressed complete confidence in the BJP's ability to win the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, stating that the party's momentum would carry it to victory. He observed that various opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), AAP, and Congress, were contesting the upcoming elections separately, signaling further disarray within the opposition camp. Shah's remarks were laced with optimism as he predicted that the BJP would not only win in Maharashtra but would also claim a decisive victory in Delhi, which would have long-term political consequences for the opposition.
Finally, Shah called on BJP workers to ensure that the party's political opponents are thoroughly defeated and that the BJP's position remains unchallenged. He urged them to work tirelessly to make the BJP invincible, emphasizing that the party's success in Maharashtra was just the beginning of a larger political realignment. The Union Home Minister concluded his speech by confidently predicting a historic win for the BJP in Delhi, calling on party workers to prepare for celebrations once the results were declared on February 8.
