The political temperature in Maharashtra soared on Wednesday as the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction launched a direct attack on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, demanding his immediate resignation. The demand stems from serious allegations linking his brother to a clandestine drugs manufacturing unit recently busted by the Mumbai police in Satara district.
Allegations of Proximity and Complicity
Sushma Andhare, the deputy leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), addressed the media in Pune, presenting a series of claims. She stated that a resort in Sawari village, Satara, owned by Prakash Shinde, the brother of the Deputy CM, is located suspiciously close to a makeshift shed where the illegal drug unit was operational. "There were three workers from Assam at the unit, and they were reportedly getting their daily meals from this very resort," Andhare asserted. She questioned the feasibility of this arrangement, asking how daily labourers could afford expensive resort food.
Andhare further displayed documents purportedly showing the resort land is registered in Prakash Shinde's name. She levelled another serious charge regarding the construction's legality. "As per regulations, no construction is permitted within 75 metres of the Koyna dam's backwaters. However, this resort stands merely five metres away," she alleged. The leader also pointed to a concrete road worth approximately Rs 75 lakh leading to the remote location, demanding to know who authorised its construction.
Claims of a Cover-Up and Official Denial
Adding another layer to the controversy, Andhare claimed the resort is operated by Ranjeet Shinde, the sarpanch of Dare village, which is Eknath Shinde's native place. She accused the Satara police of attempting to bury the case. "Despite having all this information, the police are trying to cover up the issue. They are even refusing to share a copy of the FIR, which is a public document," she charged.
In a swift rebuttal, Prakash Shinde refuted all allegations on Wednesday. He categorically denied any connection with the resort in question. "The land the opposition is talking about is nearly three kilometres away from the spot where the drugs were seized," he told reporters. He clarified that he had given the said land to Ranjeet Shinde about six months prior and has had no involvement with it since.
Political Repercussions and Next Steps
This incident has ignited a fresh political firestorm in the state, with the opposition UBT faction seizing the opportunity to corner the Shinde-led government. The demand for the Deputy CM's resignation is a significant escalation, directly linking a senior minister's family to a criminal case. The allegations of illegal construction near a dam and the mysterious expensive road raise questions about potential misuse of power and regulatory violations.
The ball now lies in the court of the investigating agencies and the state administration. Whether the police investigation will delve into the alleged links or dismiss them, and how the ruling Shiv Sena and its allies respond to this aggressive push from the UBT camp, will determine the trajectory of this developing scandal. The incident underscores the intense and personal nature of the ongoing political rivalry in Maharashtra.
