'Koshyari A Marathi Manoos At Heart': Fadnavis' Wife Backs Governor Amid Shivaji Remark Row

All political parties, with the exception of the government ally Bharatiya Janata Party, have urged that the Governor be removed for his slur against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, rushed to the rescue of beleaguered Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Friday, amid a strident clamour to sack him. She claimed that Koshyari is a 'Marathi manoos' (Marathi man) at heart and that his recent remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were misunderstood.

Amruta claimed to know the Governor personally and said that he sincerely cares about the Marathis in the state.

"I have experienced this myself... Though it has happened many a times that he has said something that has been wrongly interpreted" Amruta was quoted as saying by news agency IANS. 

Her defence of Koshyari came a day after the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition said that the Governor had "crossed all limits" with his words about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on November 19.

Except for the ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), all political parties - Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, as well as the opposition Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) - have blasted the Governor and urged his removal from the august post.

According to Sena (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, the Governor has insulted Maharashtra's ideals and icons such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, and Savitribai Phule, as well as the people of the state.

"After the 'Minde' government (referring to Shinde) came to power in the state, it is being continuously insulted and abused, the Governor is slighting 'Shivraya'. The Centre should recall him immediately. People who have no place even in old-age homes are being appointed as Governors," Thackeray stated emphatically, IANS reported. 

On Thursday, NCP President Sharad Pawar stated that Koshyari had "now crossed all limits" and urged President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against him.

"The post of Governor represents an institution...  We did not speak out against the Governor before to preserve its dignity, but he has now crossed all limits. Such people do not deserve critical posts such as Governor," Pawar stated firmly.

The state Congress President Nana Patole and other party leaders have also demanded the removal of the Governor for his slur against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Governor has been chastised by the direct descendants of the renowned Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale and Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, for his remarks about their illustrious ancestor.

Bhosale has dubbed Koshyari a "third-class person" and has sent letters to the President, Prime Minister, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting his removal, while also threatening to begin an agitation in the state. However, the Governor attempted to make amends by praising Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at a recent function, but state leaders are unconvinced and insist on his removal.