Maharashtra: ‘I Have No Wings To Be Clipped’: Fadnavis Hits Back At Uddhav
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah had engineered the defection of the six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs as part of this strategy: Mr. Thackeray
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's claim that his "wings were being clipped" within the BJP. He said he had "no wings to be cut" and enjoyed the blessings of Maharashtra's people and the support of the party leadership.
Mr. Thackeray had claimed during an interaction with party workers in Parbhani that Mr. Fadnavis looked "helpless" when they recently travelled on the same flight. He alleged that the Chief Minister's influence within the BJP was being reduced because he could emerge as a future Prime Ministerial contender.
The remarks came days after six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, marking another major split in the party four years after the 2022 rebellion led by Mr. Shinde. The Shinde faction described the latest defections as “Operation Tiger”.
Mr. Thackeray alleged that the real exercise was not “Operation Tiger”, but “Operation Devendra”. According to him, the BJP’s central leadership feared that Mr. Fadnavis could become a future contender for the Prime Minister’s post and therefore wanted to “clip his wings” by strengthening Mr. Shinde.
Mr. Thackeray also claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had engineered the defection of the six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs as part of this strategy.
Referring to their recent flight to Nagpur, Mr. Thackeray said Mr. Fadnavis appeared “helpless” despite being the Chief Minister. He claimed the BJP leader had lost confidence because his own party leadership was weakening his position.
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Fadnavis said the two leaders were seated at opposite ends of the aircraft and had no interaction during the journey. He said he spent most of the flight watching a web series on his mobile phone. “Since I was watching a web series, where did he notice my helplessness?” he asked.
“I don’t have any wings, so who can clip them? I have the blessings of Maharashtra’s 14 crore people and the support of my seniors. There is no need to worry. I also accept Uddhav Thackeray’s good wishes,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Fadnavis also remarked that had Mr. Thackeray extended his “good wishes” in 2019, the political situation in Maharashtra might have been different.
