Residents of remote Dere Tam village in Maharashtra’s Satara district usually put up ‘gudiyas’ (traditional flags) on the Marathi New Year in March-April after Eknath Shinde was sworn in as chief minister. But, as one of its own, residents hope it will bring development: better infrastructure and a desire that students no longer have to cross a river to go to school after class 6.
Celebrations were held in Shinde’s village in the western part of the state as the Shiv Sena strongman was appointed chief minister after leading a successful rebellion to topple the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government.
Seen mostly as a grassroots politician who rose from Thane near Mumbai, Shinde belongs to Dare Tam, located on the banks of the Koyna river, about 300 km from the state capital. The 58-year-old leader had completed his education from this village before his family moved to the bigger city to make a better living.
All the residents of the village want rapid development now. As urban development minister in the Uddhav-led cabinet, Shinde had ensured that some development works were implemented in the village, a resident said, but expressed hope that the local school would be up to class 12.
“As soon as Shinde Sahab’s name was announced as the next CM, people started celebrating. Sweets were distributed, gulal was applied on each other’s faces, coconut was offered to the village deity, aarti was performed and slogans were raised in his support,” said Ganesh Utekar, a local resident and army functionary.
“We also put dolls on our houses and made rangolis outside. We are very happy that our ‘dada’ has become the CM.”
After a rebellion with several Shiv Sena MLAs, the people of the village prayed to the local deity and performed an ‘abhishek’ ritual to remove the obstacles that came in their way.
One of the residents said there is a need for better roads and other infrastructure, while a woman said that the children have to cross the river to go to high school after passing class 6.
(with PTI inputs)
read all breaking news, today’s fresh newswatch top videos And live TV Here.