Manmohan Dhar
Maharashtra has been going through a very tough time in the past month due to dramatic political developments resulting into a complete change of guard in the state assembly with Eknath Shinde group of Shiv Sena emerging victorious in the battle for power. On July 3, 2022 Rahul Narvekar was elected Speaker to the state assembly with 164 votes in favour and on July 4, 2022 Eknath Shinde obtained the vote of confidence on floor of the house with a thumping majority. In fact some more MLAs who had not yet expressed their support to Shinde group, voted in favour of the new dispensation led by Eknath Shinde. Immediately after proving the majority on the floor of the house Maharashtra Government led by Eknath Shinde got into action and administration was geared up with an upbeat. A lot of criticism was raised against Uddhav Government in tackling the issues like Palghar lynching of Sadhus and their brutal killing and various other law and order matters that needed attention of the Government. There was a strong resentment against the Government for using the Maharashtra police according to the wishes of the party leaders holding control over the State politics. Shiv Sena has never been criticised for its stand on Hindutva but in MVA (Maha Vikas Agadi) regime there has been an unending condemnation by the then opposition terming the Shiv Sena as having succumbed to the anti-Hindu policies of Congress and NCP.
Since the formation of new Government, it has been a complete overhaul of the administrative machinery. Both Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are trying to do everything possible to address the outstanding issues which concern the common man directly. But, it looks the road ahead is not going to be that smooth for both of them. Opposition parties like NCP, Congress and Uddhav and his handful of supporters in the party will be leaving no stone unturned to make it difficult for the Shinde Government and it has very well being apprehended by the incumbent Government, which is trying to overcome every obstacle with a correct approach.
Chief Minister has already expressed his strong desire to work for the development of Maharashtra and for the satisfaction of common man. Devinder Fadnavis too is of the opinion that the people of Maharashtra have suffered a lot during Uddhav Government and a process of redressal has to be taken up on war footing in order to come up to the expectations of people, who had voted for Natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP.
Shinde put the facts in the lime light when he admitted that his last two and a half years had been very difficult for him and all those who supported him when it was needed the most for the betterment of the people of Maharashtra. He expressed his dismay and almost could not resist his emotions when he said that the disrespect and step motherly treatment in the party was making them feel suffocated every single day when they were compelled to be with someone who had strangulated the very existence of Hindutva.
Shinde termed the parting ways with Uddhav and joining hands with BJP as the home coming. He asserted that he had now proved to be the real taught of Anand Dighe and Baba Saheb Thackeray and that he must have definitely brought some solace to the otherwise dejected souls of these two Stalwarts and pioneers of Hindutva in the state of Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray, it has been alleged, has played with the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra who thought that he would never compromise with the basic principles of Shiv Sena. But, to their biggest discomposure he not only betrayed the people of Maharashtra but he brought a big disrespect to his own father who had once said that he would prefer dissolving Shiv Sena than to work with Congress party. And Uddhav just did the opposite. There was a definite under current against Uddhav in the party but no one dared to come to the fore front and spell it out to him. Eknath Shinde and his group over these two and half years mustered courage and took a strong and courageous decision of going against the appeasement politics of Uddhav Thackeray and also refused bluntly to further suppress their inner conscience. Shinde refused to work in an atmosphere which was suffocating and most uncomfortable for him to continue under the leadership of Uddhav who had almost given it up at the hands of Sonia and Pawar. Today, all cases against those who took law into their own hands have been reopened and a fast-track enquiry has been ordered to give justice to the victims. Development is back on track. Schemes worth approximately one lakh ninety-five thousand crore with respect to Agriculture, Education, Rural development, Special area development, Irrigation and flood control, Energy, Industry and minerals, Transport, Communication, Science and technology, and various other programmes and projects are being addressed with a proactive and positive approach keeping in view the overall prosperity of the state. Maharashtra finds itself in safest of hands. It looks as if a new era of development and prosperity has ushered on the state. Hindutva and good governance have been accorded a rebirth in Maharashtra.
