Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday critiqued the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led government, accusing it of lacking the necessary vision to drive the state’s development.
In an interview with News18 India, Shinde contrasted his administration’s proactive efforts with what he described as “stagnation” under Thackeray’s leadership.
Shinde highlighted Maharashtra’s current leadership position in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India, attributing the success to his government’s policies, which have made Maharashtra an investment-friendly state. He pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the ambitious Mumbai-Pune Missing Link and the imminent completion of Metro 3’s first phase as key initiatives that have positioned Maharashtra as the nation’s growth engine.
“We are attracting industries that create jobs for the people of Maharashtra, providing them with security and the necessary facilities to establish their businesses,” Shinde stated. He criticised the previous government for its lack of focus on development, saying, “They lacked the vision to initiate infrastructure projects. Our government, guided by PM Modi, has successfully attracted more FDI and accelerated the state’s development.”
Shinde also took aim at the previous administration’s governance style, suggesting it was disconnected from the public. “You cannot run a government by sitting at home or relying on Facebook Live; you need to be on the ground, engaging with the people,” he asserted.
Emphasising the potential of Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to generate a trillion-dollar economy, Shinde discussed his administration’s efforts at tackling pressing issues, particularly in rural Maharashtra. He highlighted initiatives such as the Re 1 crop insurance scheme and infrastructure development in remote areas like Gadchiroli, Bhandara, and Gondia, which have attracted industries and spurred economic activity in these previously neglected regions.
Shinde also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing reservation to the Maratha community. “We have granted them 10 per cent reservation, but some have challenged this in court. Previous governments only played politics with this issue instead of taking decisive action,” he said.
Reflecting on the political challenges he has faced, Shinde revealed a plot within his former party to imprison him for opposing certain strategies, including attempts to entrap BJP leaders in false cases. “Before they could act, I distanced myself from that government, leading to its collapse and the failure of their plan,” he concluded.
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