Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar launched a scathing attack on the MahaYuti government on Wednesday, criticizing the administration for the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue. Pawar alleged that the MahaYuti government assigned the responsibility for the statue’s creation to an inexperienced sculptor, which led to its failure just eight months after installation.
Speaking to the media, Pawar criticized sculptor Jaydeep Apte from Kalyan, Thane, for his perceived lack of skill and experience in handling such a significant project. “It is evident that Apte lacked the expertise required for such a monumental task. The state government’s explanation that the statue fell due to adverse weather conditions is implausible and suggests a deeper issue of corruption,” Pawar said.
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Pawar also took aim at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, questioning the wisdom behind delegating such an important project to someone with questionable capabilities. He contrasted this with the enduring presence of other large statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and other leaders across Mumbai and Maharashtra, such as those at the Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar West.
Controversy Over Statue’s Collapse
The controversy over the statue’s collapse began nine days ago when the statue, located at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, suddenly crumbled, causing widespread shock among the people of Maharashtra. In response, the MahaYuti coalition—comprising Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—has been engaged in damage control. BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Chief Minister Shinde, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have each issued apologies amid concerns over the impact on the upcoming state Assembly elections.
In protest, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), has launched a statewide agitation demanding the resignation of the MahaYuti government and alleging widespread corruption in the statue project.
Adding to the political turbulence, the state government recently transferred the Sindhudurg Collector and demoted the district’s top administrative position to a non-IAS junior level, drawing surprise from both political and government circles.
The Malvan Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. While authorities have issued a Look Out Circular for sculptor Jaydeep Apte, they have apprehended structural consultant Chetan Patil of Kolhapur.
