# Shinde hits back at Thackeray over vote theft claims

> Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister accuses the Thackeray faction of stealing votes in 2019 and announces drought relief at a Shiv Sena rally.
- Title: Shinde hits back at Thackeray over vote theft claims
- Summary: Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister accuses the Thackeray faction of stealing votes in 2019 and announces drought relief at a Shiv Sena rally. Deputy Chief…
- Keywords: eknath shinde, uddhav thackeray, shiv sena, maharashtra, drought relief, maha vikas aghadi, elections, farmers, news, politics, Shinde, hits
- Source: The Hindu — https://thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/at-dussehra-rally-eknath-shinde-turns-vote-theft-charge-on-uddhav-thackeray/article71605302.ece
- Author: Chinmay Gaikwad
- Published: 2026-10-21T07:52:10+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eknath shinde, uddhav thackeray, shiv sena, maharashtra, drought relief, maha vikas aghadi, elections, farmers, news, politics
## Shinde accuses Thackeray of vote theft
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the real theft of votes occurred in two thousand nineteen, when the Thackeray faction formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government against the mandate voters gave to the Shiv Sena-BJP…

> the largest robbery of democracy
## Shinde flags off drought aid
On the morning of the Dussehra rally, Shinde flagged off one hundred trucks of aid for drought-affected districts.
## Sewing machines and bicycles for farmers
In Parbhani, Shiv Sena distributed twenty five thousand sewing machines to women in farming families and twenty five thousand bicycles to girls who travel to school.
## Loan waiver and central support
Shinde said the budget provides thirty two thousand crore for a loan waiver. He claimed farmers receive six thousand a year from the Centre, six thousand from the State, and six thousand crore has reached…
## Modi backs Maharashtra farmers
Shinde said he and the Chief Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
## Shinde challenges EVM critics
Shinde asked how MPs protesting against EVMs won their seats if the machines had been tampered with, and whether they won by stealing votes.
## Regime change within Thackeray faction
Shinde said regime change had already occurred within the Thackeray faction's own party, responding to Opposition claims about vote theft and EVM tampering at the Dussehra rally in Mumbai.

> regime change had already occurred within its own party
## Key takeaway

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused the Thackeray faction of vote theft in two thousand nineteen and announced relief for drought-affected farmers at a Shiv Sena rally.