Eknath Shinde: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is scheduled to visit Delhi today and will likely meet Home Minister Amit Shah. The visit comes during an ongoing war of words between Shiv Sena and BJP sparked by an advertisement. The ad featured Eknath Shinde as most popular leader in state of Maharashtra. The full-page advertisement in a major newspaper that also included Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited a popularity survey. According to this survey posted on June 13, Eknath Shinde was far ahead of his deputy Devendra Fadnavis in terms of popularity. Eknath Shinde has dismissed all claims of inter-alliance rift and stated that friendship between him and Fadnavis is like ‘fevicol ka jod.’
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The controversial advertisement
The advertisement fueled speculations of rift amongst the ruling alliance of Maharashtra, which is set to complete one year in office on June 30. After this next day, an advertisement focusing on BJP-Shiv Sena alliance was published. “The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is at the heart of the wishes of the public,” the advertisement reads. The ad also features late Balasaheb Thackrey, PM Modi, HM Amit Shah and senior Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe. The earlier ad’s tagline said, “Modi for India, Shinde for Maharashtra,” cited Shinde as most preferred face for CM post in Maharashtra. The old ad also credited ministers from Shinde’s camp for the development work done in the state. The earlier ad had left BJP leadership and cadre in disbelief as some believed Shinde was projected one man show.
Reaffirming partnership and showcasing unity
After the controversy broke out Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai said, “Our party has nothing to do with the advertisement. It may have been issued by a well-wisher of our party, Shinde and Fadnavis.” Shinde also distanced himself from first ad by saying that in minds of Maharashtra populace both him and Fadnavis are seen as leaders and figures reflected that only. Amid rumors of rift, Shinde and Fadnavis travelled in a helicopter together for an event in Palghar on Thursday. Shinde stated that both BJP and Shiv Sena work under the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pramod Mahajan, Gopinath Munde and PM Narendra Modi and there is no rift between him and his deputy. He also went on to say that “”The friendship between me and Fadnavis is not new…it is 15-20 years old. The bond between us is strong, which will not break. Some call it a ‘jodi’ of Jai-Veeru”
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