Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, accusing him of merely carrying out the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) bidding. Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Kumar challenged Shinde to speak against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and industrialist Gautam Adani if he truly had the courage to act independently.
Kanhaiya Kumar's allegations against Shinde
Kumar, a prominent Congress figure, asserted that Shinde's political decisions are dictated by the BJP leadership. "Eknath Shinde only does the BJP's bidding. He has no independent stance. If he has any courage, let him speak against Amit Shah or Gautam Adani," Kumar said, according to PTI.
The Congress leader's remarks come amid ongoing political tensions in Maharashtra, where Shinde leads a faction of the Shiv Sena in alliance with the BJP. Kumar's challenge targets Shinde's alignment with the BJP's national agenda, particularly on issues related to industrial policy and governance.
Political context and reactions
The statement reflects the Congress party's strategy to highlight what it perceives as the BJP's dominance over its allies. Kumar's comments also underscore the opposition's criticism of the BJP's ties with industrialists like Adani, whom they accuse of benefiting from government policies.
Shinde, who became chief minister in 2022 after a split in the Shiv Sena, has faced repeated accusations from opposition parties of being a puppet of the BJP. The Congress leader's challenge is likely to intensify political debate in the state ahead of upcoming elections.
As of now, neither Shinde nor the BJP has responded to Kumar's remarks. The political landscape in Maharashtra remains volatile, with alliances shifting and opposition parties seeking to consolidate their positions.
