A BJP MP from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, expressed her support for Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on social media after Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of betrayal. Ranaut argued that alliances, divisions, and treaties are a normal part of politics, citing historical examples like the split in the Congress party, and questioned whether politicians who truly avoid political maneuvering could be trusted even with everyday tasks like selling golgappas. She further criticized the Shankaracharya for misusing his influence and words against the Chief Minister, claiming that the actions hurt the sentiments of his supporters.
The controversy escalated when the Shankaracharya met Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree, voicing his support while lamenting what he described as a grave betrayal. Invoking principles of the Hindu faith such as the values of virtue (punya) and sin (paap), he stated that betrayal is one of the worst transgressions, insisting that the community would continue to lament until Thackeray was reinstated as Chief Minister.
In response, figures from different Hindu organizations, including Mahant Narayan Giri of Juna Akhada and Mahant Raju Das from the Hanumangarhi Temple in Ayodhya, countered Saraswati's narrative by accusing Thackeray of his own political betrayals and criticized his actions during other significant events, such as the lynching of sadhus in Palghar. These contrasting opinions underscore the deep divisions and heightened emotions permeating the political discourse within Maharashtra, reflecting a broader struggle over interpretation, allegiance, and the role of religious authority in state politics.