Kolhapur, April 11, 2025 – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took a sly swing at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray Thursday, telling a Kolhapur rally, “I got cheated by an innocent face,” in a jab tied to their 2022 fallout that split the Sena and toppled Uddhav’s MVA government. Addressing BJP-Shiv Sena workers, Shinde’s barb—sans naming Uddhav—lit up the crowd as he touted his Mahayuti alliance’s grit.
The “innocent face” quip, reported by Times of India, nods to Shinde’s June 2022 rebellion with 40 MLAs, ending Uddhav’s 30-month CM stint after their 2019 pact with Congress-NCP frayed. “Some thrive on deceit—I build on trust,” Shinde said, per The Indian Express, framing his rise from autorickshaw driver to deputy CM as proof of loyalty to Bal Thackeray’s legacy. Uddhav’s camp didn’t bite—Sanjay Raut shrugged, “He’s obsessed,” on X.
Shinde’s Kolhapur flex isn’t random—local polls loom, and western Maharashtra’s 60 seats are a Mahayuti must-win post a shaky 2024 Lok Sabha show (ECI). With Amit Shah in Chennai hinting at BJP-TN alliances, Shinde’s digging in—two flyovers worth Rs 250 crore got nods Thursday, a voter nod. “Work speaks—I don’t need masks,” he added, a dig at Uddhav’s Zoom-era Covid rule (Hindustan Times).
Posts on X split the mood—“Shinde’s a fox, Uddhav’s a ghost!” one jabbed; another backed, “He’s delivering, not whining.” Data’s stark: Mahayuti’s 2024 vote share dipped to 43% from 48% in 2019 (CSDS). Uddhav’s Sena (UBT) nabbed 9 Lok Sabha seats to Shinde’s 7—Kolhapur’s a grudge match now. “It’s personal—he won’t let go,” a Sena insider told The Hindu.
