Eknath Shinde Calls Himself Pilot of Development, Says Fadnavis Now Flying the Plane

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde likened the Mahayuti government to a “development aircraft,” claiming he was its original pilot and Devendra Fadnavis now steers it forward.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted that he had piloted the state’s development agenda when the Mahayuti government first came to power, and that current Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is now at the helm.

Speaking at the inauguration of Amravati airport and launch of commercial flight operations, Shinde described the leadership transition as seamless, saying, “When development and welfare schemes took off, I was the pilot… now, Fadnavis is the pilot and the two of us (Shinde and Ajit Pawar) are co-pilots.”

The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader took a veiled swipe at the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, blaming it for stalling infrastructure projects, including the Amravati airport.

“The work on Amravati airport began when Fadnavis was CM (2014–2019), but the MVA regime halted the progress. After our government took charge in 2022, it was completed swiftly,” he claimed.

Shinde emphasized that several development and welfare schemes were revived only after the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)—returned to power.

Shinde used aviation metaphors to describe the coalition’s functioning, asserting continuity and unity in governance. “The development aircraft is the same, and we are moving forward at the same speed,” he said, attempting to underline coordination among the three leaders.

Both CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar were present at the event but did not directly comment on the metaphor.

The Amravati airport, a long-pending infrastructure project, is expected to boost regional connectivity and economic activity in eastern Maharashtra. It had become a point of political contention, with competing claims over its progress and delays.