India
Maha Election Results 2024: When Eknath Shinde Got Emotional Over Losing His Two Children In A Tragedy | India News – Times of India
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
After leading Mahayuti to a commanding lead of 213 out of 288 seats, Shinde expressed his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra. “This is a historic and resounding victory.
Parliamentary election results
The 2024 victory marks a crucial chapter for Shinde, who gave an emotional speech in the assembly just two years ago, soon after securing his position as chief minister. Reflecting on personal tragedies and political struggles, Shinde talked about the loss of his two children in a boating accident in 2000.
“They attacked my family. My father is still alive, but my mother is deceased. My two children died. Anand Dighe consoled me at the time and told me to channel my pain into serving others. He encouraged me to become a leader in the Shiv Sena,” Shinde said, breaking down during his speech in 2022. His eldest son, Shrikant, now a Shiv Sena MP, was a source of strength during those difficult times.
Shinde also opened up about the threats his family faced during his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership of the Shiv Sena and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. “I was humiliated during the Legislative Council elections. Betrayal isn’t in my blood, but I couldn’t stand by any longer. When people started contacting me, I realized I had to take action, even if it meant sacrificing everything,” he said.
Despite his rebellion, Shinde claimed that he was initially lined up to become Chief Minister of the MVA government. However, objections within the Shiv Sena derailed these plans, paving the way for Uddhav Thackeray to take up the role. “Ajit Pawar later told me that there were no objections from the NCP, only from my own party. Sharad Pawar supported Uddhav Thackeray’s appointment and I fully supported him,” Shinde explained.
Eknath Shinde: A Profile
Early life and humble beginnings
Eknath Shinde was born on February 9, 1964 in Satara, Maharashtra. His family later moved to Thane in search of better opportunities. Financial hardships forced Shinde to abandon his studies after completing 11th standard. To support his family, he worked as an autorickshaw driver, demonstrating the humility and resilience that would later define his political career.
Even before entering politics, Shinde was deeply influenced by Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of the Shiv Sena, and Anand Dighe, a Shiv Sena strongman from the Thane region. Shinde’s association with the Sena began in the 1980s and he soon became a key figure in the party’s Thane operations. His active involvement in agitations, including the Maharashtra-Karnataka border agitation in 1985, earned him recognition as a grassroots leader.
Rise in the Shiv Sena
Shinde’s political rise began with his election to the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997. Over time, he became a dominant figure in the region, representing the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane for four consecutive terms as an MLA .
In 2014, when the Shiv Sena initially chose not to join the government, Shinde became the leader of the opposition. Later, when the Shiv Sena joined the BJP-led government, Shinde held crucial portfolios including the Public Works, Health and Family Welfare Department and the State Road Development Corporation. His strong administrative skills and loyalty to the party enhanced his reputation as a reliable Sena leader.
The 2022 uprising and the CM’s tenure
Shinde’s most significant political move came in 2022, when he led a faction of Shiv Sena MLAs that revolted against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. Backed by 40 MLAs and backed by the BJP, Shinde overthrew the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and became Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The dramatic events, marked by accusations of horse-trading and treason, reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Shinde positioned himself as a staunch Balasaheb loyalist, often invoking the late Shiv Sena founder’s ideology to counter criticism from the Thackeray faction. Under his leadership, the Shiv Sena split, with the Election Commission recognizing Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena.
