Shinde’s ‘Jai Gujarat’ Sparks Uddhav-Raj Thackeray Unity Against BJP
In a fiery political twist ahead of the upcoming Mumbai civic elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s “Jai Gujarat” chant at a Pune event has triggered a full-blown identity row.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray says, "Gaddar (Eknath Shinde) said ‘Jai Gujarat’ just like the actor in the movie Pushpa says ‘Jhukega nahi s*la’; but this Gaddar follows ‘Uthega nahi s*la’. He doesn’t have his own thoughts. His boss came, so to please… pic.twitter.com/s7N4a0bog0
— IANS (@ians_india) July 5, 2025
The slogan, which was delivered in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 4, 2025, immediately drew the ire of opposition leaders and Marathi pride activists. The sharpest criticism came from Uddhav Thackeray, who labeled Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor) to the Marathi cause and mocked him with a sarcastic jab from the film Pushpa — “Uthega nahi s*la!”
Speaking at the “Marathicha Awaaz” rally in Mumbai’s NSCI Dome on July 5, Uddhav took the opportunity to lash out not just at Shinde but at the broader saffron alliance. He condemned the perceived dilution of Marathi pride, especially in light of recent government moves to impose Hindi in Maharashtra schools, a decision rolled back on June 29 after widespread protest.
What gave the rally even more weight was the unexpected reunion of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray after 20 years. The event, conducted without party banners, focused purely on Marathi cultural identity and regional pride, signaling a united front against the Shinde-BJP government’s alleged “Gujarati appeasement.”
Thackeray Brothers Weaponize ‘Jai Gujarat’ to Rally Marathi Votes
The rally was not just about slogans—it was a strategic political moment. With the Mumbai civic polls approaching, the Thackeray cousins are uniting the “Marathi Manoos” by framing Shinde’s actions as a betrayal of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy. Uddhav’s team even shared old videos where Shinde praised Gujarati communities to highlight his shifting loyalties.
Eknath Shinde, however, was quick to defend himself. He argued that “Jai Gujarat” was a tribute to the Gujarati community in Pune, which helped build the Jairaj Sports and Convention Centre. In response, his media team released an old clip of Uddhav Thackeray himself saying “Jai Gujarat” at a Gujarat event, accusing the former CM of hypocrisy. They also reminded the public of Aaditya Thackeray’s “Kem Cho Worli” campaign during past elections—an outreach to Gujarati voters.
While CM Devendra Fadnavis called the row “unnecessary,” and defended Shinde’s slogan as customary in cultural settings, opposition leaders weren’t buying it. AAP’s Mukund Kirdat and NCP (SP)’s Clyde Crasto linked the slogan to a deeper pattern: the shifting of major projects like Vedanta-Foxconn to Gujarat, accusing Shinde of surrendering Maharashtra’s economic and cultural identity.
On social media the row exploded. Trending hashtags like #JaiGujaratRow and #MarathiPride slammed Shinde for betraying Marathi sentiments. Others sarcastically questioned whether “Jai Maharashtra” was no longer good enough for Maharashtra’s own leaders.
The impact of this row will likely be felt in the BMC elections, where Uddhav and Raj aim to capitalize on regional sentiment. By transforming the controversy into a Marathi vs Gujarati pride issue, they are consolidating their core base, while painting Shinde as an outsider-friendly opportunist.
