Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faced a sharp political counter-attack on Saturday, 11 July, as opposition leaders — led by Shiv Sena (UBT) — branded him a 'traitor' and 'fugitive' over his remarks linking Uddhav Thackeray to alleged donation irregularities at Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple. The backlash came a day after Shinde accused Thackeray of staying silent on alleged embezzlement at the temple while defending the Uttar Pradesh government's handling of the Ram Temple donation-theft controversy.

Shiv Sena-UBT Fires Back

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant turned the Hindutva argument squarely back on Shinde, saying: 'If you (Shinde) had such strong feelings for Hindutva, why did you stay in power with him (Thackeray) for two and a half years? Why did you enjoy power with him? Did you recognise this after two and a half years? You are the ones who left fearing the ED, you are cowards...traitors.'

Sawant added: 'One who (Shinde) stabbed a saint kind of a person (Thackeray) and ran away, such fugitives will now speak about Hindutva? Does he have the right to say this?'

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut drew a direct parallel between the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and the Ram Temple Trust, alleging that the former now 'comprises corrupt people.' 'Eknath Shinde is angry because we are still not allowing them to steal from there,' Raut said.

MNS Demands Inquiry, Flags ₹500 Crore Spend

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Yashwant Killedar called for an independent probe but expressed scepticism that one would materialise, saying 'the entire system is under their control.' He alleged that Siddhivinayak Temple Trust Chairman and Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar secured ₹500 crore in government funds during Shinde's tenure as Deputy Chief Minister for 'beautification of the temple.'

'What was the need? Does beautification take this much money at a small place like this? And even if they want to do so, the Siddhivinayak Temple itself has sufficient money. In fact, it donates to other Trusts for social causes. So, some kind of corruption is going to take place here as well, which we are opposing,' Killedar said.

NCP-SP Questions Shinde's Timing

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Naseem Siddiqui questioned why Shinde had not ordered an inquiry committee when he was Chief Minister. 'Now, with his statements, there appears to be a political angle to it,' Siddiqui said. He added that if irregularities exist, a probe is warranted — but cautioned against making allegations that could 'mess with the sanctity of the temple' if unsubstantiated.

Shiv Sena Spokesperson Calls Allegations 'Serious'

Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde described the Deputy CM's allegations as 'serious' and drew a comparison with the SIT probe and arrests made in the Ram Temple donation-theft case. 'There should be a proper probe into the allegations (at Siddhivinayak Temple), and the guilty should be arrested,' Hegde said. Notably, Hegde's call for accountability cuts across the ruling coalition's own ranks, signalling internal unease over the controversy.

The episode underscores a deepening political battle over religious institutions in Maharashtra, with the Siddhivinayak Temple — one of Mumbai's most prominent shrines — now drawn into the state's fractured post-split Shiv Sena rivalry. How the government responds to demands for a formal inquiry will be closely watched.