MUMBAI: In an event held at New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi last Tuesday, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar honoured Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtriya Gaurav Award in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.  

The award includes a cash prize of five lakh rupees, a citation, a memento, and the traditional Shindeshahi turban. During the event, Pawar praised Shinde’s leadership in Maharashtra from 2022 to 2024, highlighting his understanding of urban issues and contributions to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane.  

Shinde also lauded Pawar’s political acumen and said that in politics, no one has ever understood the googly bowled by Pawar, and sometimes even people close to him don’t realize it. He further remarked, “But I am sure he will not bowl a googly (political trick) at me. One should learn from Pawar how to maintain relations in politics.”  

This felicitation stirred significant unease within both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of the NCP, Congress party, and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UTB), and expressed that Pawar should have avoided sharing the same platform with Shinde, as it insulted the sentiments of Marathi people in Maharashtra.  

The fact that Pawar, who is a key member of the alliance both in the state as well as at the national level, felicitated Shinde added to the intrigue, as Shinde is a staunch opponent of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut…  

The political dynamics in Maharashtra have been further complicated by the upcoming local body elections, with parties closely monitoring each other’s moves. Pawar’s gesture has been seen as a strategic move to mend fences and possibly counterbalance Shiv Sena’s influence within the alliance.  

A day later, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray also hit out at Shinde, calling him “anti-Maharashtra” and saying those who betray the state are “anti-national.” Aditya, who was visiting Congress and AAP leaders in Delhi, said, “Those who are anti-Maharashtra are anti-nationals. We cannot honour such persons who indulge in such dirty work. This goes against our principles. I am not aware of his (Sharad Pawar’s) principles.”