This is an archive article published on August 28, 2024
Shivaji statue collapse: Another Mahayuti minister in the dock, MVA wants Deepak Kesarkar out
The Maha Vikas Aghadi said Deepak Kesarkar’s remarks on the Shivaji statue collapse were a reflection of the Maharashtra government’s ‘bad intentions’ and exposed its ‘shoddy functioning’.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the statue was built and overseen by the Navy and added that its collapse is not an issue on which one should play politics.
The Mahayuti government in Maharashtra faces yet another controversy, this time over education minister Deepak Kesarkar’s remarks over the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsing at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg district.
“The incident is sad but good things will come out of it,” Kesarkar, who is from the Shiv Sena and hails from coastal Sindhudurg, had said after the 35-foot-tall statue collapsed on Monday. He added that the government will construct a 100-feet Shivaji statue at the same spot.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) criticised Kesarkar’s remarks, saying it was a reflection of the government’s “bad intentions” and exposed its “shoddy functioning”.
“People like Kesarkar should be thrown out of the Cabinet immediately… He has no right to remain in the Cabinet,” Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday. Raut said it seemed like Kesarkar and his government were waiting for the statue to collapse. “What a shame… They wanted the statue of none other than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to collapse so that they could build a new one and mint money. The bad intentions of this government are clearly visible,” Raut said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP said the people of Maharashtra have been hurt by the incident. “People like Kesarkar… belong to Fadnavis’s team. It is Fadnavis’s sin. They are enemies of Shivaji Maharaj. They all only want to make money,” Raut added.
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londe said Kesarkar and Mahayuti ministers Chandrakant Patil and Ravindra Chavan should resign. “Patil looks after cultural affairs while Chavan is the public works department minister.
Their ministries have failed to ensure that a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji is built in such a way that it remains unaffected for years to come. Their ministries failed in their duties. Besides, Kesarkar has made a statement that only exposes the shoddy functioning of the Mahayuti government,” Londe added.
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The Shivaji statue was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Navy Day (December 4) last year. Following its collapse, both Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pointed out that the Indian Navy had built the statue.
“The statue was built in haste before the elections so that it could be inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The contractor regime of Mahayuti is responsible for this insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who is our idol,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray said.
Earlier this month, the Mahayuti government had come under fire from the MVA after two of its leaders, MLAs Ravi Rana and Mahesh Shinde, made comments regarding the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojna for women and were criticised by senior leaders of the alliance.
At a press conference in Mumbai, Kesarkar said he was quoted out of context. “My statement is being misinterpreted. I had said something very bad has happened… At the same time, I had said something good will come out of this… The statue which collapsed was smaller in size and we expect the new one will be 100 feet tall. Of course, this is my demand and I don’t know whether it will be accepted.”
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Kesarkar said he had also said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the first to set up the Navy. ”We are proud of the Navy… Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our deity and a statue befitting his stature should be built. The Navy and state government will reconstruct the statue. There is no need to do politics over it. We will built the statute as early as possible.”
Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
Professional Legacy
Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles.
Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change.
Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities.
Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area:
1. Political Shifts & Alliances
"Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
"BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls.
"Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections.
"NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections.
2. Civic & Administrative Accountability
"PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions.
"93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads.
3. Social & Labor Issues
"As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra.
"Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse.
Signature Beat
Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport.
X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More
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