Daijiworld Media Network - Kolhapur

Kolhapur, Nov 24: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday firmly rejected speculation of discord with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing sections of electronic media of manufacturing a false narrative solely to boost TRPs.

Speaking in Solapur while campaigning for the Nagar Parishad polls, Shinde said that despite his party contesting certain local seats against the BJP, there was no hostility between the allies. “This is a local election. Emotions run high at the grassroots. For the Lok Sabha, we were united to ensure Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister again, and in the assembly elections our aim was Mahayuti’s victory. Local polls are a different dynamic — workers want to contest, and we respect that,” he said.

He reiterated that Shiv Sena’s political opponent was not the BJP but the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), adding that this equation would remain unchanged. Addressing reports that he and Fadnavis had been avoiding each other at public functions, Shinde blamed the media: “The media creates such questions and even provides its own answers. They fabricate stories about me and the CM just to make breaking news. This TRP-driven misinformation should stop.”

Shinde also clarified that his earlier remarks involving “Ravan” and “ego” were not directed at the BJP but at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his camp. “Everyone knows who Ravan is and who is ahankari. A farmer’s son rising to become Chief Minister is something some people cannot digest. You cannot understand people’s pain by sitting indoors. When I became CM, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders developed stomach aches — they are the real Ravan, they are the arrogant ones,” he said.