Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has made a pointed analogy comparing opposition parties to “sheep and goats” in the face of a formidable adversary, whom he likened to a “lion” – referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shinde’s remarks were made during an interview with a Hindi channel, where he commented on the current state of Indian politics.
Shinde emphasized that the opposition’s primary focus appears to be defeating Prime Minister Modi, and he perceives a lack of a cohesive and effective strategy from the opposition. In his words, “The opposition only thinks about defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I do not see anywhere the opposition is putting up a fight.”
The Chief Minister went further to underscore the dominance of the ruling party, saying, “I will not call opposition vultures but sheep and goats cannot come together to put up a fight against a lion in a jungle. A lion is always a lion and he would rule the jungle.”
Regarding the political landscape in Maharashtra, Shinde mentioned that after Ajit Pawar decided to join the government, his coalition enjoys the support of over 215 MLAs, suggesting that there is no immediate threat to the government’s stability.
Maharashtra holds significant political importance in India, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, making it the state with the second-highest representation after Uttar Pradesh. Eknath Shinde also subtly alluded to his predecessor, Uddhav Thackeray, by emphasizing the current government’s commitment to working for the people and highlighting that the electorate will ultimately decide the merits of their leadership.
Responding to allegations that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is being politically used for targeting opponents, Eknath Shinde defended the agency, stating that the ED takes action against those suspected of engaging in corrupt practices and does not engage in harassment without valid cause.
Shinde’s comments provide insight into the ongoing political dynamics and power struggles in Maharashtra while affirming the strength and stability of the current government led by the coalition of BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP.
