Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, 4 August publicly condemned the Congress party over its social media post labelling Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar a 'Gungi Gudiya' (mute doll), triggering a sharp political row that spilled from press conferences into the streets of Mumbai. The controversy has widened the fault lines between the ruling MahaYuti alliance and the opposition Congress ahead of a politically charged season in Maharashtra.

How the Row Erupted

The flashpoint was a post on the official Maharashtra Congress social media account that read: 'Sunetra Pawar, how many more days will she remain a mute doll!' The remark was widely read as a dig at Pawar's perceived silence on key governance issues, including the Finance Ministry portfolio, farmer loan waivers, smart meter disputes, and the investigation into a recent accident involving her husband, the late former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

MahaYuti Hits Back

Chief Minister Fadnavis described the remark as a 'personal, low-level attack' born of frustration over repeated electoral defeats, arguing it reflected a 'lack of political decency' on the part of the opposition. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde echoed that view, saying Congress should feel 'public shame' for deploying such language against a senior woman leader. He added that the women of Maharashtra — referencing the ruling alliance's 'Ladki Bahin' constituency — had already delivered their verdict on such disrespect.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde drew a pointed historical parallel, noting that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was once similarly mocked as 'Gungi Gudiya' by her opponents, only to silence critics through decisive leadership. Munde claimed Congress is resorting to the same language out of fear that Sunetra Pawar will prove her mettle in office. He also highlighted her recent visit to Beed, where she conducted public grievance meetings well into the night despite difficult personal circumstances.

Munde separately addressed media reports about his own conduct at the Beed press conference, denying he had threatened a farmer and clarifying he had only asked the individual to speak calmly. He also noted that he has faced what he described as an uninterrupted 'media trial' for the past 252 days despite not holding a ministerial portfolio for the last year-and-a-half.

Congress Defends the Remark

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal stood by the post, arguing the term was used to highlight Sunetra Pawar's silence on critical public issues rather than to demean her as a woman. 'In public life and politics, when allegations are made, leaders must address journalists' questions directly. However, when an individual with a reputation as a goon orders journalists to remain silent in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister, and no intervention is made, it undermines democratic and social norms. The description was used to highlight this silence and passive stance,' Sapkal said.

Sapkal also invoked the Indira Gandhi precedent in defence, saying: 'If we have used this term as political criticism, it is now up to her to prove her strength. She should take charge of the Finance Ministry, secure loan waivers for farmers, resolve the smart meter issue, and release the investigation report on Ajit Pawar's accident.' He additionally alleged that Chief Minister Fadnavis routinely sidelines NCP ministers' portfolios, claiming the party has effectively ceded its independence to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.

NCP Workers Storm Congress Office

The verbal confrontation rapidly escalated into a physical standoff. As Sapkal was addressing the press conference, NCP leader Suraj Chavan, accompanied by party workers, entered the Maharashtra Congress office in South Mumbai, raising slogans and demanding an immediate public apology. Similar protests were staged by NCP workers in Thane, Pune, and other parts of the state.

Police personnel intervened to manage the situation as supporters from both parties came face-to-face inside the premises. Addressing media after the protest, Chavan warned that if Congress fails to issue a formal apology, NCP workers will enter Congress offices across Maharashtra. 'Perhaps Congress workers have forgotten Indira Gandhi. They must clarify whether demeaning women is part of Congress ideology,' he said.

Voices Beyond Party Lines

Social activist Anjali Damania also publicly condemned the Congress's choice of words, calling it disrespectful towards a woman in public office regardless of political affiliation. The cross-party criticism signals that the remark has resonated beyond the ruling alliance's base and could carry reputational costs for Congress.

With NCP workers threatening sustained protests and Congress showing no sign of withdrawing the remark, the standoff is likely to intensify — and could shape the tone of political discourse in Maharashtra in the weeks ahead.