In village near Mahabaleshwar hill station, CM Shinde says ‘doing double duty, not on leave’

The Shiv Sena (UBT) had claimed that Eknath Shinde was keeping a low profile after it emerged that the BJP had offered the chief ministerial post to the NCP’s Ajit Pawar.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde. (PTI/File)

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In village near Mahabaleshwar hill station, CM Shinde says ‘doing double duty, not on leave’

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Away from Mumbai’s rising temperature—both political and atmospheric—Chief Minister Eknath Shinde clarified on Wednesday that he was not on leave but busy with official work in Satara district. And his office tweeted that he cleared 65 files through videoconferencing on Tuesday.

“I am not on leave. I never go on leave. Currently, I am doing double duty. The reports that I was on leave are wrong. I am busy with work, meeting people, holding meetings with officials and reviewing development work in the district,” Shinde told reporters in his Dare village, which is in Mahabaleshwar taluka. “Those who sat at home during their tenure as chief minister should not advise me,” he said in a jibe at Uddhav Thackery.

Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) had claimed that Shinde was keeping a low profile and was hardly audible after it emerged that the BJP had offered the chief ministerial post to the NCP’s Ajit Pawar. “And that is the reason why Shinde has disappeared to native place in Satara,” the party said.
The village is located about 25 km from Mahabaleshwar, where the maximum temperature remains on the lower side compared with other parts of the state, which is in the grip of severe heat in summer. Mahabaleshwar is currently overcrowded with tourists from across the country.

“During a meeting with officials, I reviewed the ongoing development works in the hill station of Mahabaleshwar…I directed the officials to ensure that the tourists get all the facilities,” he said, adding that he also reviewed the work on the Tapola-Mahabaleshwar road and laid the foundation stone for a road stretch. “I have come here. I am meeting people and holding a janata darbar. I am going to the fields and closely observing the ongoing farming work here.”

Asked under whose leadership the 2024 elections would be fought, the Shiv Sena leader said, “We will be at the helm for one and half years. We will fight elections as Mahayuti. Do not worry. Some people have not been able to digest the way we have been working since we came to power.”