As Maharashtra celebrates a landslide victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the 2024 assembly elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s emotional journey over the past two years comes to the fore.
After leading Mahayuti to a commanding lead of 213 seats out of 288, Shinde expressed his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra. “This is a historic and resounding victory.
Assembly Election Results
I thank every voter, every section of society, and every worker from the Mahayuti parties for their hard work and trust. This victory belongs to the people,” he said. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), in contrast, struggled to make an impact, leading in only 50 seats according to early trends.
The victory in 2024 marks a pivotal chapter for Shinde, who just two years ago gave an emotional speech in the assembly shortly after securing his position as Chief Minister. Reflecting on personal tragedies and political struggles, Shinde opened up about the loss of his two children in a boating accident in 2000.
“They attacked my family. My father is alive, but my mother passed away. My two children died—Anand Dighe consoled me at the time and told me to channel my pain into serving others. He encouraged me to become a leader in the Shiv Sena,” Shinde said, breaking down during his speech in 2022. His eldest son, Shrikant, now a Shiv Sena MP, was a source of strength during those difficult times.
Shinde also recounted the threats his family faced during his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership of the Shiv Sena and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. “I was humiliated during the legislative council elections. Treachery isn’t in my blood, but I couldn’t stand by and watch anymore. When people began reaching out to me, I realised I had to act—even if it meant sacrificing everything,” he shared.
Despite his rebellion, Shinde maintained that he had initially been in line to become the Chief Minister of the MVA government. However, objections within the Shiv Sena derailed those plans, paving the way for Uddhav Thackeray to take the role. “Ajit Pawar later told me there were no objections from the NCP, only from within my own party. Sharad Pawar supported Uddhav Thackeray’s appointment, and I stood by him fully,” Shinde explained.
Eknath Shinde: A Profile
Early Life and Humble Beginnings
Eknath Shinde was born on February 9, 1964, in Satara, Maharashtra. His family later relocated to Thane in search of better opportunities. Financial hardships forced Shinde to leave his studies after completing the 11th standard. To support his family, he worked as an autorickshaw driver, showcasing the humility and resilience that would later define his political career.
Even before entering politics, Shinde was deeply influenced by Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of the Shiv Sena, and Anand Dighe, a Shiv Sena strongman from the Thane region. Shinde’s association with the Sena began in the 1980s, and he quickly became a key figure in the party’s Thane operations. His active involvement in agitations, including the Maharashtra-Karnataka border agitation in 1985, brought him recognition as a grassroots leader.
Rise in the Shiv Sena
Shinde’s political ascent began with his election to the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997. Over time, he became a dominant figure in the region, representing the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane for four consecutive terms as an MLA.
In 2014, when the Shiv Sena initially chose not to join the government, Shinde became the Leader of the Opposition. Later, as the Shiv Sena joined the BJP-led government, Shinde held critical portfolios, including Public Works Department, Public Health and Family Welfare, and State Road Development Corporation. His strong administrative skills and loyalty to the party cemented his reputation as a dependable Sena leader.
The 2022 Revolt and CM Tenure
Shinde’s most significant political move came in 2022, when he led a faction of Shiv Sena MLAs to rebel against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. Supported by 40 MLAs and backed by the BJP, Shinde toppled the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and became Maharashtra’s Chief Minister. The dramatic events, marked by allegations of horse-trading and betrayal, reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Shinde positioned himself as a staunch Balasaheb loyalist, often invoking the late Shiv Sena founder’s ideology to counter criticism from the Thackeray faction. Under his leadership, the Shiv Sena split, with the Election Commission recognising Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena.