The most recent exchange of harsh words between former friends, now bitter rivals, appears to have been sparked by Anil Deshmukh’s claims that Devendra Fadnavis pressured him into framing Uddhav and Aaditya in false cases.
As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach, the rivalry between former friends Uddhav Thackeray, president of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Devendra Fadnavis, senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, has become more heated and personal.
On Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray criticized Fadnavis sharply during meetings in Pune and Mumbai. He compared Fadnavis to a “bed bug” that needs to be removed and called him a “watermelon” that should be thrown into potholes.
In response, Fadnavis dismissed Thackeray’s remarks during an event in Nagpur, suggesting it’s best to ignore someone who seems mentally unbalanced. He accused Thackeray of showing signs of frustration and aligning himself with outdated ideologies.
The latest escalation in their feud appears to have been triggered by allegations from NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader and former home minister Anil Deshmukh. Deshmukh claimed that he was pressured by Fadnavis to frame Uddhav and his son Aaditya in false cases, in exchange for easing investigations by the Enforcement Directorate and CBI. Uddhav seized on these claims, challenging Fadnavis during a speech on July 31, saying that either Fadnavis or he would remain in politics.
Uddhav’s close aides say he is particularly aggressive when his family is involved, and they suggest he believes the BJP is trying to undermine him.
It’s not unusual for political rhetoric to get heated before elections in Maharashtra, but several factors have turned former allies Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis into fierce rivals.
From 2014 to 2019, when the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena were in power together, Fadnavis and Uddhav had a close working relationship. The Shiv Sena trusted Fadnavis’s government and its decisions fully.
Fadnavis viewed Uddhav as a “soft-spoken, cooperative” partner. Even though the BJP finished just behind the Sena in the 2017 Mumbai municipal elections, Fadnavis allowed Uddhav to maintain full control of the civic body, including all administrative roles and the Mayor’s position.
Their strong bond was evident even after the BJP and Sena parted ways following the 2019 Assembly elections. Uddhav avoided criticizing Fadnavis and instead blamed the BJP’s central leadership for the split.
The relationship took a serious turn for the worse in 2022 when Eknath Shinde, a senior Sena leader, rebelled against Uddhav, leading to a split in the party and the collapse of the Uddhav-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Sources suggest that Uddhav believes Fadnavis and the BJP central leadership were instrumental in orchestrating this split.
Since the revolt led by Eknath Shinde, the relationship between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis has deteriorated sharply. Last year, Uddhav called Fadnavis a “useless” home minister, which led Fadnavis to respond forcefully. He countered by saying, “I’m not useless. I’m ammunition. Don’t underestimate me. I’m live ammunition.”
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule explained that Uddhav is targeting Fadnavis because Fadnavis is the BJP’s main leader in the state. Bawankule noted that the Opposition recognizes Fadnavis’s strength and his ability to challenge his rivals.
Meanwhile, several BJP strategists weren’t surprised by Uddhav’s attacks. One BJP leader commented, “Uddhav’s approach to politics has always been heavy on rhetoric. Fadnavis has generally been restrained, but sometimes a response is needed in kind.”