The rift within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) seems to be widening further after Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar showered praise on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for his tenure as Chief Minister. This unexpected move has reportedly not gone down well with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who, according to sources, felt that Pawar should have distanced himself from such gestures that appear to endorse a political adversary. Pawar’s remarks have fueled speculation about growing tensions within the MVA, raising concerns about the alliance’s unity ahead of future elections.
On Tuesday, Pawar, who chairs the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference, attended an event where he felicitated Shinde with the ‘Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar.’ During his address, the 84-year-old veteran leader commended Shinde’s governance style and praised his inclusive approach to administration. He also noted his personal satisfaction that a leader from his home district of Satara had ascended to the Chief Minister’s post. While his remarks appeared to be a mere acknowledgment of Shinde’s leadership, they have triggered significant political ripples, especially within the opposition camp.
Sources indicate that Thackeray and his party members were deeply displeased with Pawar’s participation in the event. They reportedly viewed his presence and comments as a subtle endorsement of Shinde, the very leader who had played a central role in the downfall of the MVA government in 2022. The MVA, an alliance comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP), has struggled to maintain a cohesive front following repeated internal frictions, and Pawar’s remarks have only added to the discord.
This is not the first time that Sharad Pawar has drawn criticism from his allies for praising political rivals. Just last month, in a surprising statement, he credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the BJP’s dominant victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Pawar pointed to the RSS’s grassroots organizational strength, meticulous planning, and aggressive Hindutva campaign as the key drivers behind the BJP’s overwhelming success. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured an impressive 230 out of the total 288 seats, with the BJP itself winning 132 out of the 149 seats it contested. The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction secured 41. In contrast, the MVA suffered a crushing defeat, managing just 46 seats—Shiv Sena (UBT) took 20, Congress secured 16, and Pawar’s NCP (SP) won a mere 10.
At the award function, Shinde was all praise for Pawar, reciprocating the goodwill and underlining how the senior politician had always maintained cordial relations with leaders across the political spectrum. Using a cricket analogy, Shinde humorously referenced Pawar’s association with his father-in-law, former Indian cricketer Sadashiv Shinde, who was known for his deceptive “googly” deliveries. He jokingly remarked that while Pawar was known for throwing political googlies, he hoped to never be at the receiving end of one.
Shinde further underscored the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Maharashtra’s rapid development, asserting that their unwavering support had been instrumental in achieving infrastructural and economic progress in the state over the past two and a half years. As a senior statesman, he noted that even Pawar had acknowledged these achievements. Shinde also reiterated that his political upbringing and values were deeply influenced by the late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and his mentor, the late Anand Dighe, both of whom had played pivotal roles in shaping his leadership style.
However, Pawar’s praises and Shinde’s warm reciprocation have sparked outrage within the Shiv Sena (UBT). Senior leader and MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on the organizers of the award function, alleging that such honors were “bought and sold” and dismissing the event as a mere political spectacle orchestrated by the BJP and RSS. Raut further accused the event of being a “political gathering of brokers” rather than a celebration of Marathi literary excellence. He questioned the rationale behind felicitating those he described as “traitors of Maharashtra” and demanded to know what contributions they had made to the Marathi language or the cultural heritage of the state.
The controversy surrounding Pawar’s remarks has once again highlighted the fragile nature of the MVA alliance. With the Maharashtra political landscape increasingly polarized, the opposition camp is grappling with internal divisions at a time when a strong and united front is crucial to counter the BJP-led government. Pawar’s consistent outreach to leaders outside the MVA fold, combined with his recent comments, has led to growing speculation about his future political moves. Some analysts believe that he is keeping all options open, while others argue that he is simply exercising his long-standing approach of maintaining strategic alliances across party lines.
As Maharashtra gears up for future electoral battles, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the MVA can mend its internal rifts or if these divisions will further erode its standing in the state’s political dynamics.
