In signs of rumblings within the ruling coalition in Maharashtra months before state polls, the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has condemned the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and given the call for a silent protest to demand action against those responsible.
“It is very painful and heart-wrenching that the statue of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erected at the Rajkot fort in Malvan has crashed. It is shocking that this statue fell in just eight months (after it was inaugurated),” state NCP president Sunil Tatkare has said in a statement.
“It cannot be denied that an unforgivable mistake was made. In order to protest this tragedy and to take precautions to prevent such accidents from happening in the future, the Nationalist Congress Party has organized a rally across the state on Thursday, dt. On 29 August 2024 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, we will hold a silent protest in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue. We will demand that strict action be taken against whoever is guilty in this case,” the statement added.
The recent collapse of a newly unveiled statue of Shivaji Maharaj has ignited a significant political controversy in Maharashtra. The 35-foot statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, fell on Monday, leading to widespread criticism. The Opposition alliance, including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), has called for the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, citing alleged construction flaws. The Public Works Department has claimed that the statue’s construction was substandard, pointing to rusted nuts and bolts. A case has been filed against contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil.
Ajit Pawar’s NCP, part of the current ruling coalition, has taken the unusual step of staging a silent protest against the very government it supports. This move is particularly notable given the shifting political landscape in Maharashtra. Since the last election, the Shiv Sena has divided into factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray, while the NCP is split between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition alliance made a strong showing, securing 30 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra. This success has intensified their efforts to replicate their performance in the upcoming state elections. Meanwhile, the BJP-led ruling alliance is determined to reclaim its position.
Ajit Pawar’s decision to protest is significant in this context. His faction of the NCP secured only one seat in the Lok Sabha elections and lost several leaders to the Sharad Pawar faction. Pawar has acknowledged that fielding his wife, Sunetra, against his cousin Supriya Sule was a strategic error. Despite these setbacks and speculation about a possible return to Sharad Pawar’s camp, Ajit Pawar remains committed to the NDA and is confident in their ability to form the government in Maharashtra once again.
