Kangana Ranaut Defends Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Criticizes Shankaracharya's Support for Uddhav Thackeray
In a series of posts on a social media platform, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut came out in strong support of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This follows Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati's claim that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was a "victim of betrayal."
Ranaut argued that political alliances, treaties, and party divisions are normal and constitutional. She cited the Congress party's splits in 1907 and 1971 as examples. "If a politician does not do politics in politics, will he sell golgappas?" she questioned.
The actor further claimed that religion also permits "treason" if the king exploits his subjects. She criticized Swami Avimukteshwaranand for using derogatory words against Shinde, accusing him of being a traitor.
Ranaut's statements come in the wake of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government's collapse in June 2022. Eknath Shinde's rebellion and subsequent split in the Shiv Sena led him to become the Chief Minister in alliance with the BJP.
Meanwhile, Juna Akhada's Mahant Narayan Giri and Ayodhya's Hanumangarhi Temple's Mahant Raju Das criticized Swami Avimukteshwaranand for his support of Thackeray. Giri pointed out that Thackeray had betrayed Devendra Fadnavis and joined hands with "vidharmis," while Das questioned the seer's silence on the Palghar sadhus' lynching and his support for leaders who made anti-Hindu comments.