The Age of Betrayal

UNLIKE his rivals, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde did not launch his campaign for the upcoming elections with dusty rallies, chest-thumping speeches or fiery public confrontations with political opponents. The former autorickshaw driver, who fought his way from Thane’s subaltern corners to the top of Maharashtra’s political ladder, could well have started his electoral outreach much before his allies and rivals on the silver screen.
Dharmaveer, a two-part Marathi biopic about Shiv Sena’s suburban giant Anand Dighe, Shinde’s mentor, depicts his rise to power and his close bond with Dighe. But one scene, which perhaps, inadvertently, reflects Dighe’s and the undivided Sena’s stance on political gaddars (traitors), visibly chafes against the film’s sympathetic and saccharine-dipped portrayal of Shinde. Midway through the film, a tense moment highlights Dighe’s reaction to political betrayal in a mayoral election in Thane in 1988, where Sena candidate Prakash Paranjpe lost by one vote due to defection. Enraged, Dighe mutters, “gaddaranna kshama nahi” (traitors deserve no mercy), as Shinde and other Sena workers watch. Dighe then orders his men to chase and punish the traitors. This cinematic moment mirrors the real-life consequences of betrayal within the party. Shinde has faced this challenge since 2022, when he and other party MLAs rebelled against the Sena leadership, toppling the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and plunging Maharashtra into political turmoil.
The rebellion occurred soon after the premiere of the movie in May that year when Shinde was serving as urban development minister in the Thackeray-led cabinet. After a dramatic nine-day crisis, Shinde staked his claim to form a government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), becoming Maharashtra’s 26th CM. However, the label of “gaddar” (traitor) continues to stick to him.
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2024-utgaven av Outlook.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2024-utgaven av Outlook.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

Education for the Greater Good
UEM Jaipur in its Mission to Provide Global Exposure with Innovative Teaching Techniques

Delivering Care Everywhere
Innovative healthcare, accessible to all communities across India

First Model Hospital for Global destination with New Benchmarks
Yashoda Medicity is a holistic ecosystem, a convergence of medical brilliance, technology, education, and patient-centred values, poised to redefine healthcare delivery in India and beyond

Green Growth: A New Normal
Indian real estate embraces sustainable design, net-zero goals and eco-friendly innovation to shape resilient, future-ready urban landscapes.

Precision Meets Expertise
Pioneering ROBOTIC Knee & Hip Replacements, Dr (Prof) Anil Arora is redefining mobility with advanced technology and compassionate care

The 5 Best Monsoon Treks in Maharashtra
This curated list of the best monsoon treks in Maharashtra highlights both natural beauty and historical significance of the state while also being ideal for lovers of adventure

Batwoman
Women have gatecrashed a stag party, smashing their way through the sexist walls of bias and invisibility to live their cricket dreams, no more in the margins but in the spotlight

Elite Bench
Why diversity and inclusion in cricket remain elusive
'Write What Should Not be Forgotten'
Chilean-American author Isabel Allende’s latest book My Name is Emilia Del Valle, set during the 1891 Chilean civil war, is the story of a young woman’s search for her identity.

It is Lonely at the Top
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah faces rebellion from within the National Conference. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is breathing down his neck. His political rival, Mehbooba Mufti, is sharpening her attack