THANE: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde who had left Thane city as a rebel cabinet minister only to return as the chief minister of the state in a fortnight was accorded a grand welcome to his fiefdom- Thane city- late Monday by hundreds of his supporters who waited for nearly seven hours braving the torrential rains.
Dressed in his trademark white shirt and trouser, Shinde made an emotional appeal to several loyalists from outside the Anand Ashram in Tembhi naka area of Thane which is the workplace of his mentor late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe and also considered as the nerve centre of Shiv Sena.
Shinde struck an emotional chord with his loyalists as he told them his rebellion was nothing but a step to get justice for himself and his colleagues who were staunch loyalists of the ideology set by late Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray.
“Balasaheb has taught us to not bow down before injustice and never waver from your ideology. We were suffocating in the previous government as we couldn’t speak openly about Hindutva whereas we always remembered how Balasaheb would say he would shut the Sena rather than collaborate with the Congress,” said Shinde justifying his action for the first time before the Thane residents.
It may be recalled the show of strength in Thane was vital for Shinde on his return to his stronghold as it was considered a litmus test to know whether the Shiv Sainiks from the city who owe allegiance to him have accepted his path or not. Shinde is a four time MLA and two-time cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government before he was anointed the chief minister.
“The huge show of strength at various points in the city to welcome the leader stands testimony that Thane has accepted his step,” said a close acolyte of Shinde.
Shinde was accorded a grand welcome at the entry point of the city and also enroute where his loyalists performed the customary arati and also showered flowers on his convoy as it passed the city. He also made a stop at the city BJP office where he was greeted by BJP functionaries.
