Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday alleged that several ministers and legislators were buying Electric Vehicles (EVs) merely for photo opportunities, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for austerity in the wake of the West Asia conflict. The remarks came as Maharashtra's ruling coalition scrambled to demonstrate alignment with the Centre's fuel conservation drive.

Thackeray's Charge: Optics Over Policy

In a post on X, Aaditya Thackeray questioned whether the austerity push would translate into tangible relief for ordinary commuters. "But what about those who can't? Will BEST tickets become cheaper again and other public transport be subsidised? Will Metro tickets see reduction in price?" he asked.

Thackeray also pointed to the 2021 EV policy introduced during his tenure, which had mandated that all ministers, government departments, and Urban Local Bodies procure only Electric Vehicles from 2022 onwards. He alleged that when the government changed, this provision was abandoned. He added that affordable, clean-source power for EVs — a key plank of the original policy — had also been quietly shelved.

NCP (SP)'s Jayant Patil Demands Convoy Cuts

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and former minister Jayant Patil echoed the criticism, stating that while the middle class consistently fulfils its duties, the government must lead by example. He specifically called out Chief Ministers, Ministers, and officials for travelling with large convoys of vehicles, demanding that the ruling party reduce the number of vehicles in both personal and official motorcades as a genuine expression of the 'Nation First' policy.

Shinde Arrives in EV, Orders Convoy Reduction

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde sought to demonstrate his commitment to the austerity call by arriving at a venue in Thane in an Electric Vehicle. He announced that he has ordered a reduction in his official convoy, retaining only essential security vehicles to minimise fuel consumption, and called upon Cabinet colleagues to adopt similar measures.

Addressing the media, Shinde urged citizens to cut petrol and diesel usage to protect India's financial stability, framing the Prime Minister's appeal as rooted in the 'Nation First' ideology. He noted that while India is not directly at war, the ongoing global conflict significantly impacts crude oil imports and dollar expenditure. He also referenced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' recent statements, confirming that the Maharashtra government is fully aligned with the Centre's plan to mitigate the economic fallout of the international crisis.

Shinde Hits Back at Opposition

Shinde criticised those he described as politicising the fuel conservation drive, arguing that a national crisis demands unity rather than point-scoring. He drew a parallel with the COVID-19 pandemic, reminding the public how citizens rallied behind the Prime Minister's appeals during that period, and urged a similar cooperative spirit now to ensure "minimum impact" of the global situation on Indian citizens. He appealed to all Maharashtrians to plan commutes efficiently and prioritise fuel savings, stating that "national interest is paramount."

The exchange underscores a growing political fault line in Maharashtra over whether the ruling alliance's response to the Centre's austerity call is substantive or merely symbolic — a debate likely to intensify as fuel prices and public transport costs remain under scrutiny.