Maharashtra, Thane: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has asserted that 15 candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had approached him seeking the Shiv Sena’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol to contest the Delhi Assembly elections. However, he declined their request, citing his commitment to coalition ethics, or yuti dharma.
Addressing an event in Thane on Sunday, Shinde stated, "A total of 15 AAP candidates reached out to me. I considered the implications and realized that if the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol were given to them, it could lead to a division of votes between the BJP and Shiv Sena, ultimately benefiting other parties. Therefore, I chose to decline."
Shinde emphasized his allegiance to the Mahayuti alliance, under which the Shiv Sena is a key partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He further revealed that he had instructed his party’s Members of Parliament to actively campaign for BJP candidates in the Delhi elections.
The BJP secured a decisive victory in the Delhi Assembly polls, winning 48 out of 70 seats, while the AAP managed to secure only 22. The results saw key AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, suffer significant defeats.
Shinde, who celebrated his 61st birthday on Sunday, also mentioned that he received greetings from several prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "They wished me as Eknath Shinde, not just as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister," he remarked.
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