Amid rumours of a rift in Maharashtra’s ruling alliance, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde warned his critics on Friday not to "take me lightly."
Shinde, referring to his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, said he had toppled a government when he was underestimated.
"Do not take me lightly; I have already told this to those who did. I am an ordinary party worker, but I am a follower of Balasaheb.
Everyone should understand this. When you took me lightly in 2022, I changed the government. We brought in a government that reflects the people’s wishes," he told the media.
Reports suggested Shinde had been skipping meetings called by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, fuelling speculation of tensions.
Shinde’s rebellion led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray government and split the Shiv Sena. He later allied with the BJP and became Maharashtra’s chief minister. However, after the BJP’s strong performance in the recent elections, he had to step down.
Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena holds 57 seats in the assembly, while the BJP has 132 in the 288-member house.
In a cryptic remark, Shinde warned that those who underestimate him should "understand this hint."
"In my first speech in the Vidhan Sabha, I said Devendra Fadnavis ji would win over 200 seats. We won 232. So do not take me lightly. Those who understand this hint should take note. I will continue doing my work," he said.
Shinde also responded to a recent death threat he received.
"Threats have come before. There were many threats when dance bars were shut down. I received threats to my life, and attempts were made to kill me, but I was not afraid. Naxalites had threatened me, but I did not give in. I started the first industrial project in Gadchiroli," he said.
On Thursday, Shinde received a death threat via email.
Mumbai police have arrested two people from Buldhana in connection with the case.
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