Shiv Sena (UBT) strongly criticized its ally, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, for honoring Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at an event in Delhi on Wednesday. Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut claimed that Shinde, who was responsible for splitting the Shiv Sena with the backing of BJP leader Amit Shah, should not have been felicitated, calling the gesture equivalent to honoring the BJP leader.
On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde was awarded the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar by Sharad Pawar, with Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia present, during the 98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
"Certain things should be avoided in politics. Yesterday, Sharad Pawar did not felicitate Shinde, but he felicitated Amit Shah. This is our feeling," said the Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member, speaking to reporters in Delhi. "Giving such an honour to someone we consider an enemy of Maharashtra is a jolt to Maharashtra's pride.
Pawar, who heads the reception committee for the upcoming literary meet scheduled for next week, was criticized by Sanjay Raut. He stated that Pawar should not have attended the event, as Shinde had toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra in 2022 through what he described as "betrayal."
Raut further remarked, "Pawar may have had a different perspective, but such politics has not been well-received by the people of Maharashtra. You (Sharad Pawar) are a senior politician, and we respect you. However, by honoring those who split Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena with the help of Amit Shah and weakened Maharashtra, you are supporting such individuals."