Did Eknath Shinde Just Expose Uddhav Thackeray's Power Agenda?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Eknath Shinde criticizes Uddhav Thackeray's leadership and motivations.
- Raj Thackeray is portrayed positively in contrast to Uddhav.
- Shinde emphasizes the importance of the Marathi language.
- Historical references to Balasaheb Thackeray highlight ideological shifts.
- Political tensions within the Shiv Sena are escalating.
Mumbai, July 5 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde launched a scathing attack on Shiv Sena UBT's chief, Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of unveiling his thirst for power and selfish motives during his recent rally.
Shinde stated, "While Raj Thackeray expressed genuine concern for the Marathi language, Uddhav Thackeray displayed anger, animosity, and an insatiable desire for power. His speech was not about Marathi interests, but rather a reflection of his own selfish agenda." This reaction came in response to a joint victory rally featuring Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, celebrating the Maharashtra government's decision to withdraw the implementation of Hindi alongside Marathi and English in schools starting from grade one.
Interestingly, Shinde directed his criticism solely at Uddhav, leaving Raj unscathed.
Shinde remarked, "It was anticipated that Uddhav Thackeray would express regret to the Marathi populace for endorsing the report that mandated Hindi from class 1 to 12 during his tenure as Chief Minister. Instead, he transformed that platform into a political battleground."
He asserted, "Some claim there is no flag or agenda. While one adhered to that narrative, the other waved the flag of selfishness and power-seeking. Today’s gathering was a letdown for the Marathi community."
In a pointed jab, Shinde added, "Three years back, we rebelled against injustice, and they are still reeling from it. Now, they are attempting to rise by grasping onto someone else’s support."
He criticized Uddhav Thackeray for using derogatory phrases against him and countered those questioning his contributions to the Marathi community by highlighting that during his Chief Ministership, the government approved the state anthem, which was also the rally's starting point.
“We successfully proposed to grant Marathi the status of a classical language, a move swiftly endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It’s unfortunate that Modi faced criticism today, reflecting Uddhav Thackeray's attitude, bitterness, impotence, and hunger for power,” he argued.
“Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena must clarify why Marathi individuals have been marginalized in Mumbai and why the percentage of Marathi speakers in schools is dwindling. The electorate demonstrated their discontent with him in the Legislative Assembly elections, as he strayed from Balasaheb Thackeray’s principles and ideas in 2019. Shiv Sena secured 60 MLAs, whereas Shiv Sena UBT managed only 20 seats in the upcoming 2024 Assembly elections. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena betrayed the populace, Balasaheb Thackeray’s philosophy, and Hindutva for power in 2019,” he alleged.