Uddhav Govt Planned to Arrest Fadnavis And Others in Plot to Break BJP: Eknath Shinde | Exclusive Interview – News18

The erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra plotted to arrest top state BJP leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, Girish Mahajan, Prasad Lad, and Pravin Darekar in a bid to break the saffron party, chief minister Eknath Shinde alleged in an explosive interview with News18 Lokmat on Thursday.

His remarks came just a day ahead of voting for 88 seats across 13 states in the second round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Eight constituencies in Maharashtra will also see polling.

The general elections this time in Maharashtra will be unique as the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have both been split, with one faction from each joining the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are in an alliance with the Congress in the form of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. While BJP ally and chief minister Eknath Shinde has the Shiv Sena name and symbol, the same is the case with deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the NCP, which may play a crucial role in the polls.

Shinde took several digs at Uddhav Thackeray during the interview. “Balasaheb Thackeray fought for the party (Shiv Sena), Uddhav Thackeray fought for personal interest,” he said.

Eknath Shinde and several legislators broke away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led unified Shiv Sena in June 2022 and formed the government with the backing of the BJP.

“I did not do any work under pressure. I was sidetracked by Uddhav’s son,” he told News18 Lokmat. “I was never against Aaditya Thackeray.”

Uddhav Thackeray didn’t want a mass leader in the party, and just wanted a “Yes Boss” culture, he claimed.

The CM also praised Uddhav’s estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who recently joined the Mahayuti.

“Raj Thackeray’s heart is big; he is a man of open mind,” said Shinde.

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