Eknath Shinde interview: ‘Uddhav’s neck collar is no longer there, he is roaming around; I should get credit for that’

Just short of one month to complete two years in office as Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde is on a campaign overdrive. As 11 constituencies in Maharashtra vote in the fourth phase on Monday, Shinde discusses the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s prospects in the state, Uddhav Thackeray, the Maratha quota issue, and the Opposition’s allegation that the BJP wants to change the Constitution if it returns to power in the state.

All the talks going on outside are by the Opposition. I am confident we will get more seats than last time. That’s because we have demonstrated our work over the last two years. Almost all work was stalled before our government came to power. Today, we are focused on all stakeholders — from farmers and women to the youth and senior citizens. People have noticed Modi ji’s (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) work of 10 years and that of our government in the last two years. Going forward, we have lots of plans for infrastructure development. Our target is to make Modi ji the Prime Minister again and make the nation strong. This is also important for a country’s development.

It is a matter of perception. When they (the Opposition) realised they were losing the election, they started propagating that the Constitution would be changed. Do you think that the Constitution can be changed? The Congress has made 82 amendments to the Constitution; Babasaheb was defeated by the Congress in elections, he was against the Congress and said that it was a house on fire, don’t go closer to it. Who started Constitution Day? It was Modiji.

Even the PM has said no one will be able to change the Constitution and people trust him. The Opposition is trying to raise it as it has nothing else to say.

We are clearly saying that ‘jab