Eknath Shinde firmly stated that the MahaYuti government is focused on public welfare and that the people’s overwhelming support in the elections proves they back the alliance’s initiatives.
“Stop Crying Over Losses: Eknath Shinde Slams Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Election Fraud’ Allegations”
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has come out swinging against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s explosive claims of a “massive criminal electoral fraud.” In a no-holds-barred interview with PTI on Thursday (August 7), Shinde dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and accused the Congress of crying foul every time they lose an election.
Speaking just days after the MahaYuti alliance’s sweeping win in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shinde credited the victory to public welfare schemes like the popular Ladki Bahin initiative and farmer-friendly policies.
“The people voted for us because we delivered. Period,” Shinde said. “In the Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won 30 seats, while we got 17. Did we accuse them of stealing the mandate then? When Congress won in Telangana and Karnataka, was that also EVM rigging?”
Calling out what he sees as the Opposition’s double standards, Shinde took a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s post-election outrage: “When you win, the Election Commission is great. When you lose, suddenly the system is broken. That’s not how democracy works.”
“Trying to Tarnish Institutions”: Shinde Hits Back
The Shiv Sena leader was sharp in his criticism of Gandhi, accusing him of attempting to “tarnish the image” of both the Election Commission and the government.
He also took aim at his political rival and former ally Uddhav Thackeray for attending a meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s residence.
“It’s shocking that Thackeray is now cozying up to the very party that once took away the voting rights of Balasaheb Thackeray,” said Shinde. He claimed that the Congress had later rewarded the official responsible with a ministerial post.
“You’re shaking hands with those who insulted Balasaheb, who disrespected Savarkar, and questioned the bravery of our armed forces during Operation Sindoor,” Shinde added.
Bihar Voter Roll Controversy? “They’re Just Scared of Losing Again”
Reacting to the Opposition’s concerns over voter roll revisions in Bihar, Shinde alleged that the Congress and its allies are simply laying the groundwork for another election loss.
“They see defeat coming, so now they’re blaming the SIR exercise. But voters are not fools—they can see through this drama,” he said.
Coming to Rahul Gandhi’s latest press conference — a performance he hyped as some sort of political “atom bomb,” which unsurprisingly turned out to be another damp squib, much like his electoral record.
The centerpiece of his press conference was Mahadevpura — an assembly… pic.twitter.com/8x46zz6Dgz
— Nishant🇮🇳 (@iNishant4) August 7, 2025
On Being Called a ‘Gaddar’: “That Label Fits Uddhav, Not Me”
Shinde didn’t hold back when responding to Uddhav Thackeray’s repeated jabs, where he has called Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor).
Devendra Fadnavis is absolutely right here ✅
Rahul Gandhi is doing exactly what a sore loser does — making wild, baseless accusations to distract from his own political failures. His vote count figures keep changing because there’s no data, only drama.
📌 No vote theft in… pic.twitter.com/jXvX5xUtp5
— Raj Yadav (@RajYadav873) August 7, 2025
“If anyone betrayed the people’s mandate, it was Thackeray. In 2019, voters gave the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance the green light. But instead of respecting that, he jumped into bed with the Congress and NCP—just to become CM,” Shinde said.
“The 2024 election results have made it clear who the real betrayers are. They didn’t even win enough seats to claim Leader of the Opposition status. The people of Maharashtra gave them a loud and clear message.”
READ ALSO – NASA Chief Says US Competing With China to Claim Moon’s Most Valuable Territory
“Proud to Meet My Leaders”: Shinde on Modi, Shah
Finally, responding to criticism over his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Shinde stood his ground.
“They mock me for meeting Modi ji and Amit bhai. But we’re proud to meet the leaders who removed Article 370 and built the Ram Mandir—turning Balasaheb’s dreams into reality.”
In what seems to be a full-frontal political counterattack, Shinde has not only rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegations but also used the opportunity to reinforce the legitimacy of MahaYuti’s victory, positioning it as a stamp of approval from the people of Maharashtra.
By
