Mahayuti rift? Eknath Shinde won political lottery, people are watching: BJP MLA Ganesh Naik
Palghar, Aug 17 (PTI): Maharashtra Forest Minister and BJP MLA Ganesh Naik has caused a flutter by stating that Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had won a "lottery", apparently referring to his appointment as chief minister in 2022, noting that people observe how a person "earns" his position and retains it.
Naik also announced that he would hold a janta darbar in Thane district, the home turf of Shinde.
"Eknath Shinde (current deputy CM) had won a lottery. Not everyone has to win the lottery, but Shinde won it. However, what matters is how a person achieves a position and retains it, and common people observe this," Naik said on Friday at a bhoomi pujan ceremony.
Naik said when he was the guardian minister of Thane district, late Vishnu Savra, late BJP MP Chintaman Wanga, and Eknath Shinde were members of DPDC (District Planning and Development Council).
The event was attended by both Shiv Sena MLAs from Palghar and Boisar constituencies, along with Palghar MP Hemant Savara of the BJP.
This is not the first time Naik, who represents the Airoli constituency in Thane district, has targeted Shinde.
In July, Naik had alleged that outsiders were exploiting Navi Mumbai’s resources, without naming Shinde, the guardian minister of Thane district.
Shiv Sena had hit back by accusing Naik of trying to deflect attention from his own long-standing hold over the city’s affairs.
Shinde toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in June 2022 and became chief minister.
He had to make way for Devendra Fadnavis after the BJP won a maximum number of seats in the 2024 assembly elections and settled for deputy chief ministership.
Meanwhile, Naik on Sunday said he would address a Janata Darbar in Thane on August 22, an announcement that could raise the hackles of Shiv Sena, headed by Shinde.
"The Thane event will cover the entire district, where citizens from across different areas will bring their grievances, seek justice, and find a way forward," he told a gathering in Thane, adding that similar events will be held in Navi Mumbai and Jawhar on August 19 and 20.
"To serve the people, we need power, and to gain power, we must work for the people. Both these responsibilities are complementary and inseparable," he told a gathering.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
