The rebel gets real

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is going all out to prove that he is better than predecessor Uddhav Thackeray, even as he awaits the Supreme Court verdict in cases linked to his rebellion

- DNYANESH JATHAR

On April 30, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah came to Mumbai to attend the live broadcast of the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme, he was welcomed at the airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. After the event at the Keshavrao Ghaisas auditorium in Vile Parle, Shah and Fadnavis were scheduled to go to another place for a discussion. After the event though, Shah told Shinde to come along—a sign that Shinde enjoyed his confidence and that Shah wanted to have a political discussion. The trio chatted for about half an hour before heading to their respective programmes. It was during his journey back from the Shah meeting that Shinde told a confidant about how Modi and Shah had stood behind him like a rock and continue to support him.

The next day, after the Maharashtra Day function at Shivaji Park, Shinde decided impromptu to inspect the beautification work at Marine Drive, as he had some time to spare till his next event at Sahyadri state guesthouse. He took a team of officials along and sought details of the work and its progress. “He told officials that Marine Drive needs more toilets as countless people visit it every day,” said an aide. “The chief minister even inspected a toilet to see if it was clean and properly maintained.”

This, said his aides, is typical of Shinde, earning him the reputation of being a tireless worker, who clocks over 16 hours of work most days. At a recent meeting of some MLAs and MPs from Mumbai, Shinde directed secretaries of various departments to complete all development works in Mumbai before time.