Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde plunged the ruling alliance in the state into a political crisis by reportedly moving to a hotel in Gujarat’s Surat with 13 other party MLAs.
The move has put a question mark on the future of Maharashtra’s ruling alliance led by the Shiv Sena (whose leader Uddhav Thackeray is the chief minister) and also comprising the NCP and the Congress.
But who is Eknath Shinde? Here is all that you need to know about the man who changed the game in Maharashtra’s politics.
A mass leader, Shinde has played a crucial role in strengthening the Sena in the state, particularly in the Thane region. He has been responsible for organising Sena’s major political events.
His son, Shrikant Shinde, is Sena’s Member of Parliament from Kalyan.
Eknath Shinde has been elected for four back-to-back terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly — 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019.
He was named Leader of the Opposition in 2014 after the Shiv Sena and the BJP fell out with each other.
When the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was formed, Shinde became cabinet minister for Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings). He is currently the minister of urban affairs.
He recently accompanied Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray on his trip to Ayodhya.
The Sena has blamed the BJP for trying to topple the MVA government “like was done in states like Madhya Pradesh.”
But why is Shinde upset?
There have been reports that Shinde is upset with the Sena leadership for allegedly being sidelined.