The Shiv Sena (UBT) strongly criticised its ally, NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday for felicitating Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, highlighting rifts within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut stated that honouring someone who played a key role in splitting the Shiv Sena and “weakening Maharashtra” was a serious insult to the sentiments of the Marathi people.
“Certain things should be avoided in politics. Sharad Pawar did not honor Shinde… he honored Amit Shah. That is how we see it. Bestowing such recognition upon someone we consider an adversary of Maharashtra is a blow to the state’s pride,” said party MP Sanjay Raut.
He added that while Pawar may have had a different perspective, this move has not been well received by the people of Maharashtra.
Shinde was conferred with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar on Tuesday at an event in Delhi. The award was presented by Pawar in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia during the 98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
While Pawar’s party maintained that the event was focused on literature rather than politics, the BJP interpreted the felicitation as an acknowledgement by the NCP (SP) chief that Shinde was a superior chief minister to Uddhav Thackeray.
