The Upper House of State Legislature witnessed ruckus while the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was giving reply on the Governor’s speech, on Thursday. Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab challenged Shinde for derailing the discussion by giving it a political angle. Deputy Chief Minister’s speech in the Upper House came with a sarcastic remark on absent Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, which led to sharp protest from Opposition members. Parab demanded Shinde to stick to the Governor’s address rather than talking about any other member. Mentioning about recent meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray at Vidhan Bhavan, Shinde said, “Some members who spoke against Mahayuti during Assembly election are now offering bouquets to those they once attacked.” The Deputy Chief Minister, without naming anyone, said, “The way some people change colours would put a chameleon to shame.”

 

While talking about the success of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, Shinde commented that those who are born with a silver spoon will never truly understand the value of Rs 1,500 that Mahayuti Government is giving to women in the State. When Opposition members suggested to deliver reply on Governor’s speech, Shinde said, “Governor himself mentioned about the development work of Maharashtra in last two-and-a-half years and I am also talking about same achievement of Mahayuti Government.” Replying to Opposition’s question on leaving the post of Chief Minister after the election, Shinde said, “In 2022, Fadnavis was Deputy Chief Minister, and I was Chief Minister. Now it is my turn to return the favour.

 

I told Fadnavis, you become CM, and I will be your deputy.” The heated exchange highlighted continuing tensions between the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the UBT group, with Opposition members, particularly from Shiv Sena (UBT), rallying behind Parab’s objections whereas Shinde was supported by BJP and NCP (AP) members in the House. The heated exchange in the Upper House lasted for more than 15 minutes.