Politics over collapse of Shivaji statue turns into a major election issue in Maharashtra

New Delhi, Sep 01: The collapse of the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, has not only sparked political flames but also set the stage for a crucial election issue.

Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public apology, the incident has become a rallying point for the opposition, fuelling their protests as the state gears up for the upcoming elections.

Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Nana Patole, the INDIA Alliance leaders in Maharashtra, took part in the protest against the collapse of the Shivaji statue on Sunday. They blamed the ruling Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra for the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

While speaking to the protestors, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's apology on the statue collapse smacked of arrogance and added that the people of the state had rejected it.

Addressing a gathering during the Maha Vikas Aghadi's "jotted maro" protest -- meaning hit with footwear -- over the collapse of the Maratha ruler's statue, Thackeray drew a parallel between the statue's collapse and water dripping into the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the new Parliament complex. The day before yesterday, the Prime Minister personally apologised to Shivaji's followers for the statue's collapse.

The current Maharashtra State Assembly's term is scheduled to end in 2024, and the next legislative assembly election is likely to be held in October/November 2024, just after the Haryana and J&K elections.

On December 4, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Malvan, a city in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, to participate in the Indian Navy's Navy Day celebrations.

During the event, Modi unveiled a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, a figure deeply linked with Maharashtra's cultural and historical identity and always remains a politically sensitive issue. Most of the regional political parties rally around Shivaji’s legacy.

The statue, costing Rs. 2.36 crore, was installed by the Indian Navy, with the support of the PWD civilian department again with good intentions marking the occasion with the historical reverence for Shivaji in the hearts of the people.

However, on August 26, 2024, less than a year after its installation, the statue collapsed. Videos and photos of the fallen statue quickly went viral, sparking a wave of outrage among locals and Shivaji's followers and leading to severe criticism of both the State and Central governments. The public's anger was palpable, and the situation became increasingly tense.

As reported by The Hindu, the situation was deemed so serious that two Maharashtra cabinet ministers, Ravindra Chavan and Deepak Kesarkar, rushed to the site. Chavan, the guardian minister of Sindhudurg and Minister for the Public Works Department (PWD), was scrutinised as it was revealed that the statue's tender had been awarded to artist Jaydeep Apte, who had limited experience with such large-scale projects.

Further investigations, as reported by The Hindu, revealed that Apte, in a previous interview with a Marathi newspaper, admitted that his experience was limited to crafting statues only two to four feet tall.

It raised questions about how such an inexperienced artist secured the tender. Speculation abounds that Apte's connections with certain right-wing organisations may have influenced the decision. It has now led to accusations of favouritism and corruption, further fuelling public anger and opposition political parties taking advantage of the same.

The incident has dealt a blow to the ruling BJP-led government in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), has seized the opportunity to demand accountability. They accused  Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his government of corruption and negligence.

As one of the political observers said, "The ruling government was already getting weak, this incident has given further strength to the opposition to use the baton against the ruling party and more so when the state goes to polls soon."

Chief Minister Shinde, in his defence, cited a report from the district collector, stating that the statue fell due to high-speed winds of 45 km/hr.

However, this explanation was criticised, particularly by the Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha youth organisation. As their spokesperson Shivanand Bhanuse told Frontline, "This kind of wind speed is very normal. Instead of giving such reasons, he should have apologised."

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attempted to diffuse the situation however overstepped by suggesting that neither the artist nor the Navy could have anticipated the environmental conditions in the coastal area.

The statement again was met with further criticism from Congress and opposition leaders, who accused Fadnavis of undermining the Navy to cover up the government's failures.

Local media also reported that a local PWD assistant engineer had warned the Navy about the statue's deteriorating condition in the third week of August, urging immediate repairs.

It added to the government's embarrassment, as the statue was technically under the Navy's jurisdiction. The government has announced the formation of a technical committee, in collaboration with the Navy, to investigate the collapse.

With the Maharashtra Assembly elections looming, the opposition MVA has seized on the Shivaji statue collapse to intensify their protests.

They organised 'Malvan Bandh' on August 28 and the ongoing 'Joote Maro' (hit with footwear) protest, The protests are going to continue tomorrow and linger to dominate the political discourse in the coming days.

The ruling BJP, sensing the political threat, has organised counter-protests, turning the issue into a statewide confrontation and shaping a strategy to counter it ahead of the election bugle that may be announced by the election commission anytime.

The collapse of the Shivaji statue is not just an architectural failure; it is a symbolic blow to the legacy of a leader who is revered across Maharashtra.

The fallen statue is being compared by the opposition to a fallen administration, highlighting the emotional and cultural resonance of the event. The opposition is also raising issues of the government's accountability, accusing them of massive corruption and political exploitation of historical symbols.

If the issue is not settled now, it is going to blow out on the name of the religion and Shivaji revered as the greatest leader of Maharashtra.  As the political battle rages on, it remains to be seen how the government will navigate this crisis and whether the opposition's protests will translate into electoral gains or the ruling government with the support of the centre will be able to defuse it. What is clear, however, is that the collapse of the Shivaji statue has left a permanent mark on the political landscape of Maharashtra.