Eknath Shinde Meets PM Modi, Extends Diwali Greetings and Discusses Maharashtra Issues, Alliance Unity
In Delhi, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him for Diwali.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 25: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Oct 25 and wished him Diwali, while also discussing various matters related to the State of Maharashtra.
He wrote, "Paid a courtesy visit to the residence of the country's popular Prime Minister, the honorable @narendramodi ji, in New Delhi today and extended Diwali and New Year greetings.
Presented Honorable Modi ji with a shawl, a bouquet of flowers, and a statue of Sant Tukaram Maharaj. During this time, there was a positive discussion on various topics. All component parties in the NDA are parties united by ideology, and he expressed the expectation that this front should remain as strong as ever. Modi ji also extended Diwali greetings to me and my family," on X.
Discussions on State Matters
The Maha-yuti is an alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), with the Sena, Republican Party of India and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana as allies in Maharashtra.
Shinde said some issues regarding Maharashtra were also discussed during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shinde told reporters that he also discussed memories of Balasaheb Thackeray.
On local body polls, he said the party's senior leadership will decide on seat-sharing and strategy as these are “grassroots-level elections."
Focus on Alliance Discipline
However, referring to the ongoing war of words between Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol, Shinde said both leaders should exercise restraint within the alliance.
He said, "Every worker feels that they should also contest the local self-government elections, but the senior leaders of the grand alliance will make the appropriate decision, and the workers will have to follow it. A message has been sent from me to Ravindra Dhangekar that there should be no differences anywhere in the grand alliance. Everyone should ensure that no rift occurs in the grand alliance. Every worker should preserve the grand alliance. No one should make statements that could lead to differences in the grand alliance.”
Action Promised in Rape Case
The BJP-led Mahayuti government has come under attack from the Opposition over the rape case of 29 year woman in Maharashtra. Shinde promised "stringent action" against those found responsible for her suicide during a discussion on the issue in both Houses of Maharashtra Assembly.
He said, "I have spoken to the local SP. The accused is a police official. An FIR has been launched in the incident. I have asked the SP to take stringent action against the accused in this case.”
Meanwhile in the case, it has been reported that the deceased also left a four-page suicide letter. She said she was forced to issue fake fitness certificates of the accused in police cases not just by the cops but even in one case by a MP and his two personal assistants, according to the alleged complaint.
Reiterating the importance of unity, Shinde stressed that there should not be any dissent within then alliance and discipline has to be maintained, if Mahayuti wishes to remain a success in Maharashtra politics.
