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The Print
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
On Maharashtra tour, why Amit Shah inaugurated former Congress CM Vasantrao Naik's statue
Across states, the BJP is known for co-opting late senior Congress leaders, attempting to get a foothold on their legacy. There are also various political calculations behind the BJP leader inaugurating a senior Congressman's statue, which a Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (undivided NCP) government commissioned 17 years ago when those two parties sat at the helm of Maharashtra. Among them, what stood out Monday was his inauguration of a statue of ex-chief minister Vasantrao Naik at Nanded, Marathwada. Later, in a speech at a Nanded rally, Amit Shah again mentioned the Congress leader among political and historical personages, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Mumbai: The 2025 Maharashtra local body poll resembles a mini assembly election this time, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday kicking off the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign in the state. He is on a two-day visit, with several programmes that he will attend in the offing. Analysts say Naik was born in the politically significant Banjara community, and the Naik dynasty has had a huge following among community members. Vidarbha, a BJP stronghold, has given only four CMs to Maharashtra, and Naik was one of them. The current generation of the Naik political dynasty is in the Mahayuti, including the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Analysts say the Congress has, so far, not celebrated Naik's legacy as much as the legacies of some of its other CMs in the state. 'In the Congress, the western Maharashtra and Marathwada leaders always gained prominence. The party has not talked about the legacies of Vasantrao Naik or Sudhakarrao Naik as much as it has about Shankarrao Chavan or Y.B. Chavan. The BJP knows this and is taking a step towards trying to own the leader's legacy,' political commentator Abhay Deshpande told ThePrint. The Vasantrao Naik legacy Vasantrao Naik was the first of only two CMs to be able to complete a full five-year term in the state from 1967 to 1972. From 2014 to 2019, the second CM to complete a five-year term was the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis. Known for steering the 'green revolution' in Maharashtra, Naik remained Maharashtra CM for a total of 11 years from December 1963 to February 1975, when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi replaced him with Shankarrao Chavan, widely believed to be one of her trusted loyalists. The Naik family dynasty is from Pusad in the Yavatmal district in the Vidarbha region. Amit Shah inaugurated the statue on Tuesday in Nanded at the Vasantrao Naik Chowk. The Naik family is the only one to have produced two Maharashtra CMs—Naik himself and his nephew Sudhakarrao Naik, the CM from June 1991 to February 1993. Yet the two are the least talked about uncle-nephew pair in Maharashtra's political history, overshadowed by the pairings of Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackeray or Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. Vasantrao Naik's grandsons, who are in active politics now, are Indranil Naik, a minister of state in the Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government and MLA from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The other grandson, Nilay Naik, is a former MLC from the BJP. Also Read: Mahayuti govt unveils new housing policy with emphasis on slum redevelopment. What it promises Banjara community outreach The Banjara community is nearly a crore in population and spread across Maharashtra. The community is also present in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, etc. Their total population is roughly 15 crore across India. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar have, across the country, been focusing on their Banjara community outreach. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated an expansive museum dedicated to the community, Banjara Virasat Museum, in Pohradevi in Washim district, Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the Banjara votes can hold sway in districts such as Jalgaon, Hingoli, Latur, Yavatmal and, to a certain extent, Nashik. Following the poor performance of the BJP in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha election last year, the party has been targeting micro-caste groups and campaigning among them to improve its chances for the assembly election——a strategy that worked for the party in the assembly polls last year. Analysts say the Banjara outreach isalso going favourably. 'The community, as such, does not have a leader today, other than Sanjay Rathod of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), in mainstream politics. Rathod's image has also taken a hit due to several controversies. By inaugurating Vasantrao Naik's statue, the BJP is looking to fill that gap and reach out to the community,' political commentator Pratap Asbe said. Rathod, as a leader of the undivided Shiv Sena, was formerly a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) cabinet but had to resign as minister, following allegations about his links with the death by suicide of a 23-year-old woman. He later joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena when the party split and returned as minister in the Shinde-led Mahayuti government in 2022. In that stint too, he faced allegations of irregularities in allotment of land—meant for Other Backward Classes—to his trust. Rathod is now a part of the Fadnavis-led Mahayuti 2.0 cabinet. The statue According to the Nanded Waghela municipal corporation, the project of ex-CM Naik's statue, initially conceived in 2008, had gone into cold storage. Only in November 2021 did the project see a revival after a general body resolution to acquire 1,183.48 square feet of private land. At the time, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the undivided Shiv Sena, undivided NCP, and Congress ruled the state. Built on 2,503.58 square feet, the statue required the civic body to acquire land from the Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation. Nine feet tall, it cost Rs 13.99 lakh. Documents from the Nanded Waghela civic body show a separate land acquisition cost of Rs 60.68 lakh. Also Read: Builders, politicians, civic officials under lens—what's the Vasai-Virar illegal buildings case
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Goli will be answered with Gola:" HM Amit Shah on Op Sindoor amid chants of 'Bharata mata ki jai'
Nanded (Maharashtra) [India], May 26 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that Operation Sindoor has sent a message to the whole world that no one should trouble the Indian army, its people and its border, otherwise they will have to face the consequences. He said so while addressing a public gathering in Maharashtra's Nanded district, where he inaugurated the statue of former Mahrashtra Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik. Speaking about Vasantrao Naik, he said, 'Today, the OBC leader Vasant Naik's statue is inaugurated. I fold my hands at him.' Multiple BJP leaders attended the gathering, including Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Bawankule. Addressing the gathering on the larger issues of national concern, the Home Minister said, 'Operation Sindoor has sent a message to the whole world that no one should trouble the Indian army, its people and its border, otherwise they will have to face the consequences. PM Modi has cleared that if someone attacks us, then 'Goli' will be answered with 'Gola',' Shah said. While also taking a jibe at Congress, Shah added that the Narendra Modi-led government has replied with multiple strikes on Pakistan, with the most recent being Operation Sindoor. 'Pakistan has forgotten that the Congress, which was there 10-15 years ago has been changed. For 11 years there is Bharatiya Janata Party's Narendra Modi government. They attacked on Uri, we retaliated with surgical strike. They attacked on Pulwama, we retaliated with air strike. And then they attacked in Pahalgam, we replied with Operation Sindoor and destroyed their terror hotspots,' Shah said. Addressing the public gathering, he told the people to raise their fists and shout: 'Raise your hands with me, on the successful Operation Sindoor, make fists and shout out 'Bharata Mata ki jai', 'Jai Jai Jai Shivaji'.' Speaking about the all-party delegation that is visiting multiple countries across the world to put forward India's position against terrorism, Shah mentioned that the diplomatic effort will 'unmask Pakistan's face of terrorism.' 'After Operation Sindoor, PM Modi decided that it is the nation's matter. So, all-party delegation of MPs will visit different countries and unmask Pakistan's face of terrorism. Then, all-party delegations were formed,' he said. While also hitting out at Shiv Sena (UBT), he mentioned that while its leaders criticised the delegation, the founder of the party, Balasaheb Thackeray would have praised the delegation. He said, 'Then, all-party delegations were formed. Later, a top leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) commented on the delegation and said that 'Yeh kiski baraat jaa rahi hai?' Shiv Sena (UBT) used to be the party of Balasaheb Thackeray. If Balasaheb had been here, he would have appreciated PM Modi for Operation Sindoor.' The Union Home Minister also highlighted the anti-naxal operation in Chhattisgarh, termed 'Operation Black Forest,' reiterating the resolve to end the red menace by March 31, 2026. 'Along with Operation Sindoor, one more operation was underway, Operation Black Forest. Under this operation in Chhattisgarh, our CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police and BSF, destroyed the hubs of naxals at the height of 5,000 ft and 31 naxals were killed. So far 36 more naxals have been killed. Many surrendered and were arrested. We will put an end to naxalism in this nation by 31st March, 2026,' Shah added. (ANI)
United News of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Maha: Minister Shah to unveil statue of late Vasantrao Naik on May 26
Nanded, May 25 (UNI) Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, will unveil of the statue of the Father of the Green Revolution and former Maharashtra chief minister, late Vasantrao Naik, on May 26 at Late Vasantrao Naik Chowk, near Nagarjuna Hotel in city. An official media statement issued on Sunday by additional commissioner of Nanded-Vaghala City Municipal Corporation stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be chief guest for this ceremony while District Guardian Minister Atul Save will preside over the function.
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HM Amit Shah to visit Maharashtra on May 25
Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to Maharashtra from May 25 to 27. According to the state BJP release, he will land on May 25 at Nagpur at 9.30 pm and on May 26, he will lay a foundation stone of Swasti Nivas at the National Cancer Institute, Jamtha, Nagpur. At 1 PM, the Home Minister will attend the function of the National Forensic Sciences University at Chincholi in Kamthi tehsil, Nagpur. He will arrive at Nanded at 3 pm and will unveil the statue of Maharashtra's former Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik, while he has kept time reserved for various meetings as well. Thereafter, the Home Minister will address the meeting at Kusum Auditorium/Shankarrao Chavan Memorial. At 5.15 PM, Shah will attend the inaugural function at Nana Nani Park Industrial Area, and at 6.30 PM, he will address a public rally. On the same night, the Union Home Minister will leave Nanded and land at Mumbai at 10 pm. On May 27, he will participate in the function on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Madhav Bag, at 10.30 am. At 1 pm, the Home Minister will speak at the function on the occasion of the 60th death anniversary of V.D. Savarkar. Thereafter, at 2.30 PM, he will leave back for New Delhi. A senior BJP functionary said that this is the Home Minister's maiden visit to Maharashtra after the Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. 'It is but natural, during his speeches, the Operation Sindoor and the Centre's zero tolerance for terrorism will dominate. On May 23, he clearly stated that Operation Sindoor had exposed Pakistan's complicity in terrorism directed at India, and it was the Pakistan Army that replied after we hit their terror bases,' said the BJP functionary. The Home Minister also said that top Pakistan Army officers were seen offering namaz and shouldering the coffins of the terrorists killed in the May 7 strikes by India on terror hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan. His visit coincides with India's Operation Sindoor global outreach as various delegations are visiting countries to highlight the threat of terrorism originating from Pakistan and to assert India's right of self-defence.
