Amit Shah vs Uddhav Thackeray over impeachment motion against judge in deepam row

By Admin

12 Dec, 2025

A major political storm has erupted in Maharashtra, intensifying tensions between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. The flashpoint: the INDIA bloc’s move to impeach Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court over his controversial directive related to the Karthigai Deepam lamp-lighting tradition near a dargah.

This unprecedented impeachment motion has triggered a fierce war of words, pushing the state’s political atmosphere into a full-blown confrontation.

1. The Core of the Controversy

The INDIA bloc’s decision to seek impeachment of Justice Swaminathan stems from his order directing the traditional lighting of a lamp at a sacred site where religious sensitivities intersect.
Amit Shah blasted this move, calling it a dangerous precedent, the first since independence where a judge is being targeted purely for “vote bank politics.”

He directly attacked Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of backing an appeasement-driven agenda.

2. Uddhav Thackeray Hits Back Hard

Thackeray responded with a fiery counteroffensive, refusing to accept the BJP’s moral positioning on Hindutva.
He questioned the BJP's consistency in defending religious sentiments and challenged Amit Shah by asking:

• Would Shah demand Kiren Rijiju’s resignation for his remarks on beef?
  
  

• Is the BJP’s sudden Vande Mataram pitch just “One Day Mataram” tokenism?
  
  

Thackeray also accused the BJP of double standards on issues like the Palghar sadhu lynching case, stressing that the ruling party selectively raises concerns to suit its narrative.

3. The Shinde-Fadnavis Duo Escalates the Attack

As the conflict widened, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde launched a sharp attack, calling Thackeray a “chameleon” who switches ideologies for political gain.

According to Shinde, supporting the impeachment of a judge whose ruling upheld a religious tradition strips Thackeray of any right to question Modi or Shah’s Hindutva credentials.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added further fuel with a pointed post on social media, suggesting that Thackeray has “lost his political soul.”

4. A Political Battle With Larger Implications

This confrontation goes beyond one judicial order. It raises larger questions about:

• The relationship between judiciary and politics
  
  

• The future of Hindutva narratives in Maharashtra
  
  

• The INDIA bloc’s aggressive political strategy
  
  

• BJP’s push to corner Thackeray ahead of upcoming elections
  
  

The impeachment motion, though procedural, has become a symbolic battlefield for ideological supremacy.

5. What Lies Ahead?

With both camps refusing to back down, the Deepam row is likely to dominate Maharashtra’s political discourse in the coming weeks. The issue has struck a nerve where religion, law, and politics collide, making it far more than a routine political clash.

As the BJP continues to frame the stance of Shiv Sena (UBT) as anti-Hindu and opportunistic, Thackeray positions himself as the counterweight challenging the BJP’s claim over Hindutva.

This showdown is far from over   and Maharashtra’s political landscape will feel its impact for months to come.