In what is being widely described as a “political earthquake,” Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde set off a storm of speculation and backlash today by unexpectedly ending his speech with the slogan “Jai Gujarat!” at a public event in Pune attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The gathering, held in the Kondhwa area of the city, was meant to highlight development initiatives and party strength. However, Shinde’s dramatic sign-off—“Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra… Jai Gujarat!”—sent shockwaves through the audience, sparking instant murmurs of disbelief and quickly becoming the top talking point in political corridors across Maharashtra.
The choice of words and the calculated pause before invoking Gujarat appeared anything but accidental. In a state as politically charged as Maharashtra—where regional pride, identity, and legacy play a dominant role—Shinde’s unexpected tribute to another state raised eyebrows, confusion, and allegations of subservience to Delhi and Gujarat-centric leadership.
Sources within political circles are split on interpreting the moment. Some believe it was an intentional display of loyalty toward Union Minister Amit Shah, who hails from Gujarat and was the guest of honor at the event. Others view it as a subtle but symbolic shift in power dynamics, hinting at Shinde’s increasing ideological alignment with the BJP’s national core rather than asserting a distinct regional identity for his Shiv Sena faction.
Opposition leaders were quick to respond. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut slammed the remark as “an insult to the spirit of Maharashtra.” “Does Eknath Shinde even remember which state he is deputy CM of? ‘Jai Gujarat’ will not get you Marathi votes. It will only expose how far you’ve bent to please Delhi,” Raut said in a fiery statement.
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leaders called the slogan a “Freudian slip of total political surrender,” accusing Shinde of abandoning Maharashtra’s legacy for political survival. “After splitting the Sena, now he wants to dissolve Maharashtra’s identity too?” questioned a senior NCP functionary.
Even within the BJP’s Maharashtra ranks, murmurs of unease were reportedly heard. While no official statement was issued, insiders suggested that some local leaders were surprised by the optics, given the delicate balance the BJP maintains between its national agenda and regional alliances.
Shinde, who rose to power after a dramatic split from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in 2022 with BJP backing, has repeatedly tried to project himself as a grassroots, Maharashtra-first leader. Today’s incident, however, may erode that image among Marathi voters wary of centralized authority and the erosion of regional voice.
Meanwhile, the chief guest Amit Shah remained composed during the event, offering no public reaction to the unexpected slogan. However, political analysts say the silence speaks volumes—either as tacit approval or strategic avoidance.
Whether the slogan was a slip, a signal, or a sycophantic salute, the political reverberations are real. And as Maharashtra moves toward a critical election season, Eknath Shinde may find himself needing to explain not just his political choices—but his words, too.
