From a rickshaw driver to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, a staunch Shiv Sainik, has come a long way. Shinde, who belongs to the politically influential Maratha community and hails from Satara district in the western Maharashtra, is the fourth CM after YB Chavan, Babasaheb Bhosale and Prithviraj Chavan to assume the top post. Shinde acceptedUddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister of Maha Vikas Aghadi government and was sulking since day one but maintained his calm.
BJP, which was unable to digest the loss of power despite its emergence of a single largest party in 2019 assembly election, had kept Shinde in its radar to exploit his sulk to topple the MVA government. Shinde in the meanwhile established his leadership and provided helping hand especially financial aid to party legislators and cadre who were not happy with Thackeray’s style of functioning as the CM and the party president.
Shinde ultimately chose the Hindutva and thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe to stage a coup as his boss and CM Thackeray failed to bring the disgruntled party men back. Shinde
Shinde, a four term legislator from Kapri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat in Thane since 2004, made his mark as the minister in the Devendra Fadnavis led government and later in Uddhav Thackeray led Maha Vikas Aghadi government as project implementer. While Thackeray, due to the pandemic mostly operated from his official residence or Matoshree, it was Shinde who stole the show by reaching to the people in need. Be it pandemic, Nisarga or Taukte cyclones, major accidents or building falls and on top of killings of citizens by naxals, Shinde was visible at every site. As the minister of urban development and public works (MSRDC)
Shinde, who had to leave education halfway due to financial constraints and family issues, shifted to Thane which has been now Shiv Sena stronghold and joined a company engaged in the sale of fish. However, due to less monthly salary, he left the job and became a rickshaw driver. During the 1970s he was attracted to Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray’s appeal to Marathi Manoos and started working for the saffron party. He came into contact with Shiv Sena’s firebrand Thane district chief Ananad Dighe and became his close confidant to work tirelessly for Shiv Sena’s consolidation.
Shinde under Dighe’s leadership emerged a street smart leader and problem solver. He participated in various agitations including Maharashtra Karnataka Border agitation. Shinde’s rise surprised many because of his enthusiasm, dedication and preparedness to convert a crisis into an opportunity.
Dighe was impressed by Shinde’s work and brought him into electoral politics by giving him party tickets in 1997.
Shinde, who has gained skills of weathering odds, will have to show his magic in taking Maharashtra to new high by attracting more investments, adding more jobs and expediting the growth. Apart from championing the Hindutva cause, Shinde with his DCM Devendra Fadnavis will have to satisfy the Marathas and OBCs with the restoration of their quotas. Challenges are many but Shinde, who is a fighter, has a potential to take them head on.
In 1980, he was influenced by Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and joined the party, working as a Sainik. During that time, he participated in many agitations, such as the Maharashtra – Karnataka Agitation over the status of Belgauvi, after which he was imprisoned for 40 days.
Once an auto-rickshaw driver in Thane city adjoining Mumbai, Shinde (58) quickly emerged as a key Sena leader in the Thane-Palghar region after joining politics and is known for aggressive approach towards issues of public interest.
Political career
His dedication to the Sena's cause was noticed and in 1997, he was given the opportunity to contest the election of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) as a corporator which he won with handsome majority.
In 2001, he got elected as a Leader of the house in TMC. He continued to occupy the post till 2004. As a leader of the house in TMC, he didn't restrict himself to the issues related to the TMC or the city, but took active interest in the overall development and well-being of the whole Thane district.
In 2004, Shinde was given an opportunity to contest the Assembly Elections from Thane Assembly Constituency by Balasaheb Thackeray, and he won it with a handsome majority.
In the very next year, in 2005, he was appointed to the coveted post of Shiv Sena Thane District Head.
He emerged victorious in the subsequent assembly elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019.
After the 2014 elections, he was elected as the leader of legislative party of Shiv Sena and subsequently the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Within a month, as Shiv Sena decided to join the state government, he took oath as the minister for Public Works Department (Public Undertakings) and went on to take the additional responsibility of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry in January 2019.
Family
Eknath Shinde is married to Lata Shinde
His son, Dr Shrikant Shinde, is an orthopaedic surgeon who got elected as a Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha from the Kalyan constituency, defeating the NCP's Anand Paranjape, who had defected from the Shiv Sena and Raju Patil of the MNS.
(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)
