In a political drama fit for prime time, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde found himself face-to-face with a black-flag-waving protester calling him a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) in Mumbai’s Saki Naka. And as expected, Shinde didn’t just shrug it off. No, he halted his convoy, stormed into the Congress office, and demanded an answer—perhaps expecting the Congress workers to hand him a bouquet instead of an accusation. “Do you teach your party workers such things?” he reportedly asked, in what could’ve easily been a scene straight out of a political thriller.

The protester, Santosh Katke, wasn’t exactly a fan of Shinde’s 2022 rebellion that tore apart the Shiv Sena. But instead of facing the consequences, he was soon whisked away by Shiv Sena (UBT) activists to Matoshree, where none other than Uddhav Thackeray himself welcomed Katke as if he had just been crowned the hero of the day. The ‘gaddar’ slinger was not only forgiven but was also rewarded with a formal induction into the Shiv Sena (UBT) fold.

It seems the only thing faster than Shinde’s convoy was Uddhav Thackeray’s attempt to make a political comeback by rolling out the welcome mat for anyone who can make life uncomfortable for the CM. Katke’s act of rebellion had earned him more than just headlines—it earned him a seat at the table of the opposition.

While Shinde is still grappling with the ‘gaddar’ tag, Uddhav is busy collecting political souvenirs, making sure everyone knows that in the world of Maharashtra politics, a protest can get you more than just police detention—it might just get you a warm seat with the opposition leader. Talk about a plot twist.