Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the historic Raigad Fort today to honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his 345th death anniversary, coinciding with the centenary celebrations of the renovation of Shivaji Maharaj’s mausoleum.
Shah, who arrived in Pune on Friday, will pay his respects at the memorial located at the fort where the Maratha king passed away in April 1680 due to health complications. His visit holds symbolic significance as it comes during a politically charged atmosphere in Maharashtra, with debates intensifying over the legacies of historical figures like Aurangzeb and Shivaji Maharaj.
Beyond the commemorative gesture, Shah’s visit is politically loaded. He is expected to hold strategic discussions with top leaders of the Mahayuti alliance, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A key agenda point is the ongoing tussle over the appointment of Guardian Ministers in Nashik and Raigad districts.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar confirmed that Shah is likely to join NCP state president Sunil Tatkare for lunch at his residence, where the issue is expected to be deliberated. “Amit Shah is likely to meet NCP state president Sunil Tatkare… and discuss the appointment of Guardian Ministers for Raigad and Nashik,” Pawar told reporters.
The appointments of BJP’s Girish Mahajan for Nashik and NCP’s Aditi Tatkare for Raigad have stirred murmurs of dissent within the alliance, prompting Shah’s intervention to smooth over differences.
Later in the day, Shah is also scheduled to attend the 75th Foundation Day celebration of the Gujarati weekly Chitralekha in Mumbai’s Vile Parle, rounding off a visit that blends cultural homage with high-stakes political dialogue.
