Alliance with Ajit Pawar political, with Eknath Shinde emotional, says Devendra Fadnavis

BHIWANDI: The BJP’s alliance with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is an emotional one while its alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP which joined the state government a few days ago is political, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday. He described the BJP’s actions in Maharashtra as ‘not adharma (unethical) but kut-niti (realpolitik).’
Addressing the one-day ‘BJP Mahavijay 2024’ workshop for party workers including MPs, MLAs, national and state party leaders in Bhiwandi, Fadnavis said the relationship with the Sena is a friendship of 25 years.
On forging new alliances, he said, it was like Rama said in the Ramayana, new alliances are needed so that Ravana in his mind thinks he is defeated.
Assuaging the disquiet among party workers over the tie-up with the Ajit group, Fadnavis said while seat sharing would be done, 152-plus (assembly) seats would be for party aspirants. The party always takes care of its allies but will not disappoint its own workers, he said.
Referring repeatedly to Shri Krishna’s actions in the Mahabharat, Fadnavis said the decisions being taken today were not “adharma” (unethical). “Let me explain what we are doing today so that there is no doubt in your mind. This is not adharma,” he said.
“This is kut-niti (realpolitik). When there is betrayal, one must use kut-niti. Why am I saying this is because a lot of people are raising issues of ethics. To do things ethically in politics, one must stay relevant. To stay relevant, Shri Krishna used kut-niti to win. People say we broke two parties, split homes. Did we break the people’s mandate first?” Fadnavis asked in his speech.
Fadnavis said CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were not infants in politics. “They have thought this through and then come over. Every time there is injustice, an Eknath Shinde will be born,” he said.
Fadnavis said what happened in 2019 was revealed in 2023. Similarly, what has happened in 2023 will be revealed in 2026. He said the next 11 months before the Lok Sabha elections are crucial and highlighted that for the party, it is always nation first.
Citing the BJP’s alliance government with Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it was the need of the hour. “All over the world, when Pakistan was saying there was no democracy in Kashmir, we held free and fair elections and even set up a government. When it was no longer needed, we kicked the government out. Our objective was to abrogate Article 370. We accepted the strategy required for the time,” he said.
Fadnavis said those coming with faith in PM Modi are welcome but those who do appeasement will not be welcomed in the party.