Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 26: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has lauded Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his firm stance against corruption, commending his efforts to instill discipline in the state administration. In an editorial published in Saamana, the party’s mouthpiece, the Thackeray faction took a direct swipe at former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing his administration of fostering a culture of fixers and brokers.
The editorial alleges that during Shinde’s tenure, corruption ran unchecked, leading to severe financial mismanagement. According to Saamana, vast sums of public money were diverted to fund political loyalties, with MLAs, MPs, and party office-bearers being financially sustained through illicit deals involving state undertakings such as MMRDA, MSRDC, MHADA, SRA, and the Urban Development Department.
“Where did this flood of money originate? Illegal tenders, fraudulent projects, commission-based fund allocations, land scams, and bribes in the housing sector fueled this massive corruption. The latest revelation is that Shinde’s Chief Collector has fled to Dubai with ?10,000 crore,” the editorial claims.
The article further highlights the nervousness within the Shinde camp following Fadnavis’ anti-corruption drive. It alleges that a ?500 crore contract was inflated to ?3,000 crore, with ?1,000 crore siphoned off even before the project began. Of this, a significant portion was supposedly allocated to Shinde loyalists.
“Fadnavis is now systematically dismantling these networks of corruption. It is hardly surprising that Shinde and his followers are rattled by this cleanup effort,” the editorial remarks.
The piece also praises Fadnavis for his decision to revoke ministers’ power to appoint personal assistants (PA) and officers on special duty (OSD). It claims that out of the names recommended by ministers for these positions, 16 were outright rejected because of their involvement in fixers' networks under the previous Shinde-led government.
“The Ministry under Shinde functioned like an open marketplace for brokers. Anyone who paid a percentage of the total contract amount could get their funds and projects approved. As a result, development projects were sanctioned recklessly, and payments to contractors were delayed due to financial mismanagement. Today, contractors are owed nearly ?90,000 crore for completed work, of which ?25,000 crore has already been lost to brokerage fees.”
The editorial further alleges that under Shinde’s rule, contracts were signed to keep MLAs and MPs loyal. These legislators, in turn, pressured contractors to pay them upfront in exchange for project approvals. With Fadnavis now scrutinizing these deals, the Shinde faction is facing a financial crisis, as their previous methods of funding have collapsed.
The article also cites a major controversy involving a French company engaged in Metro construction, which allegedly accused the MMRDA of demanding kickbacks. The editorial warns that such corruption damages India’s international reputation, as foreign firms hesitate to do business under these conditions.
Adding to the political turmoil, the piece claims that Shinde recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, complaining that Fadnavis’ actions were cutting off financial resources for his faction. Shinde reportedly warned that if his MLAs and MPs were deprived of funds, the party’s survival would be at risk.
“While Shinde seeks relief from Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to eliminate corruption. Modi recently declared, ‘Just give me the names of those involved in corruption, and I will take action against them one by one.’ Given this, Fadnavis should have no hesitation in revealing the names of Shinde and his fixers,” the editorial concludes.
With these sharp accusations, the battle between the Thackeray and Shinde factions has intensified, setting the stage for further political drama in Maharashtra.