After Sharad Pawar Felicitates Eknath Shinde, UBT Sena - NCP (SP) Row Erupts (image: x.com/PawarSpeaks)

Mumbai, Maharashtra: A political row is brewing in Maharashtra which is susceptible to create ruptures in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress. A voice of dissonance emerged between Shiv Sena(UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) after senior leader Sharad Pawar felicitated Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at an event.

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Sharad Pawar felicitated Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday (February 12) with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtriya Gaurav Award on the occasion of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference in New Delhi. Pawar is the president of the welcoming committee for the conference and in his address, NCP patriarch has lauded Shinde’s inclusive approach to governance and development during his term as chief minister in the previous Mahayuti alliance government. After receiving the award, Shinde addressed the event and said that he has good relations with Pawar. He further added that “one has to learn from Pawar how to maintain relations going beyond political lines,” ABP news reported.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Responds

The Uddhav Sena has expressed displeasure over Pawar’s participation in the function. A day later, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that he did not expect Pawar to participate in the event and confer an award on Shinde. Raut claimed that Sharad Pawar felicitated a “traitor” who tried to destroy Maharashtra. “How can Pawar Saheb felicitate such a betrayer who brought the MVA government down and wreaked a party which had consistently fought for the self-respect and pride of Maharashtra and Marathi Manoos?,” Indian Express quotes, as Raut is saying.

Eknath Shinde’s revolt in June 2022 led to the vertical split of the Shiv Sena by former taking away 41 MLAs and 13 MPs. It led to the fall of then MVA government and later Shinde emerged as Chief Minister with the BJP’s support.

While taking up the issue during a press conference, Raut said that Shinde, who toppled Maharashtra’s government and acted dishonestly, should not have been honoured by Sharad Pawar.

Meanwhile, State BJP chief and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule attacked Sena (UBT), stating that by felicitating Shinde, Pawar has admitted Shinde was a better CM than Uddhav Thackeray.

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Nationalist Congress Party (SP)

Regarding the felicitation, NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe said that Pawar has set a unique example of statesmanship by honouring Shinde and NCP (SP) spokesperson Ankush Kakade said that Raut is mixing a literary event with politics and it should be kept separate. Sharad Pawar is known for his unexpected political moves and it can be traced in his political career as well.