This is an archive article published on May 11, 2023
Once upon a rainy night… could this story have gone differently for Uddhav?
His decision to leave the CM's official residence voluntarily, serenaded by Shiv Sainiks, and to resign before floor test were once seen as highlights of his political career. Now, SC order says it also sealed fate of his govt
Once upon a rainy night… could this story have gone differently for Uddhav?
x
00:00
1x1.5x1.8x
On June 23 last year, in a very public display of renunciation meant to showcase that he was not hankering for power, the then Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray left the CM’s residence Varsha for his family home, after an emotional speech in which he said he was willing to resign.
Wednesday night was deemed one of the highpoints in Uddhav’s political career, as hundreds of Shiv Sainiks, braving the Mumbai rains thronged a 15-km stretch to watch their chief minister relocate from his official residence at Malabar Hills to his home Matoshree in Bandra, and pledged their support to the party, which faced a vertical split following a revolt led by Eknath Shinde.
A week later, on June 30, a day before he was to face a floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly, Uddhav, in a 15-minute public address made to the residents of the state, announced he was resigning from his post. “It’s an unfortunate aspect of democracy that heads are only used to count who has the majority. I’m not interested in this,” he said in his speech, as he announced his resignation.
Uddhav’s act had also been questioned by his senior allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance at the time, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, who said he took the decision without taking them into confidence.
Even last month, Pawar told a Marathi news channel: “Thackeray had the right to quit, but you end up facing the consequences when you take decisions without consultations. He quit without any discussion with allies.”
While it is still not clear whether things would have been different if Uddhav had decided to slug it out and face a vote of confidence in the Assembly, or if such an event then would have made it easy for the Supreme Court to restore his government, Uddhav himself has remained unapologetic about his decision to resign.
Story continues below this ad
“It may have been a wrong decision legally,” he said, following the Supreme Court order. “However, morally I did not want to win a vote of confidence from people who were given so much by my father and the party. I was not ready to face a vote of confidence from traitors who betrayed us,” he added.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More
3 min read
Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde
