In Shirdi, Amit Shah slams Sharad Pawar for ‘politics of betrayal and treachery’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticises Sharad Pawar's politics, praises BJP's achievements, and outlines strategies for upcoming elections.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (January 12, 2025) launched a scathing attack on Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar, accusing him of perpetuating the “politics of betrayal and treachery” in Maharashtra since 1978.

Mr. Shah, addressing the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convention in the temple town of Shirdi, claimed that the party’s massive win in the 2024 Assembly election signalled the end of this era of instability and dynasty politics.

“The people of Maharashtra rejected Pawar’s and Uddhav Thackeray’s politics of betrayal and showed them their place in the 2024 elections,” Mr. Shah said. He noted that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured 230 of the 288 seats in the Assembly, with the BJP alone winning 132 seats. Meanwhile, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance was reduced to 46 seats, with NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena(UBT) winning only 10 and 20 seats, respectively.

The BJP leader accused Mr. Pawar of exploiting his positions of power, including as Chief Minister and Union Agriculture Minister, without addressing the issues plaguing farmers, particularly suicides. “Only BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has introduced concrete schemes to alleviate farmers’ distress,” he said, urging party workers to focus on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots by involving women and farmers.

He dismissed concerns over fulfilling the BJP’s promises, stating, “Our government delivered on Ram Mandir, abrogation of Article 370, and will eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026. Let the Opposition watch as we fulfil every assurance.”

Mr. Shah also took a dig at the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance bloc, pointing out internal discord among its members. “Shiv Sena(UBT) is contesting local body elections alone, and the Congress and the AAP are fighting separately in Delhi. The decline of the Opposition bloc has begun,” he said, expressing confidence in BJP’s victory in upcoming elections, including the Delhi Assembly elections next month.

This convention marks the BJP’s first major event since its November 2024 electoral victory and the formation of a government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Nearly 15,000 delegates are expected to attend. It served as a platform for BJP leaders to outline their strategy for the upcoming local body elections, with a focus on consolidating the party’s grassroots presence and ensuring unity among its ranks.