Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande has stirred political chatter with her emphatic endorsement of Eknath Shinde as the true Chief Minister of Maharashtra, even though he currently holds the position of Deputy CM under BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis. Speaking at a party event, Kayande asserted that for the Shiv Sena and for the public, Shinde remains the face of leadership in the state.
She credited the Mahayuti alliance's sweeping victory in last year’s Maharashtra Assembly elections—where it won 230 out of 288 seats—to two key factors: the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana”, and the public appeal of then CM Eknath Shinde. Her remarks suggest that despite a change in official titles, Shinde's stature within the party and among supporters remains undiminished.
Highlighting Shinde’s tours to Varanasi and Leh-Ladakh, Kayande claimed that he has evolved into a leader of national stature, not just a regional player. “Even if he is the deputy CM today, for the Shiv Sena, he is the CM and no one can deny this truth,” she declared. She added that people are joining the Shiv Sena because of their faith in Shinde's ability to “perform, not just speak.”
Her statement is particularly notable given Shinde’s controversial rise to power in 2022, when he led a dramatic rebellion that split the Shiv Sena and brought down the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The Election Commission later awarded Shinde the Shiv Sena party name and symbol, relegating the Thackeray faction to Shiv Sena (UBT).
Kayande’s comments reflect an ongoing effort within the Shinde-led Shiv Sena to reinforce his political legitimacy and consolidate his image as the de facto leader of Maharashtra—even in a power-sharing arrangement with BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
