Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stirred controversy on Friday after he concluded his public address with the words “Jai Gujarat” during a high-profile event in Pune, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The unexpected phrase, delivered after Shinde’s customary “Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra”, caught many off guard and triggered sharp reactions across political circles in Maharashtra. The event was the inauguration ceremony of the Jairaj Sports and Convention Centre in Pune’s Kondhwa area. Shinde, delivering a shayari in praise of Shah, ended his speech by saying, “Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra… Jai Gujarat,” prompting visible surprise among attendees and instant chatter on social media.

The slip came on a politically sensitive stage, especially considering the deep cultural pride associated with Maratha history in the region. Shinde’s remarks were seen as particularly jarring, given the presence of Amit Shah, who earlier in the day unveiled a statue of Maratha general Peshwa Bajirao I at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune.

Meanwhile, Amit Shah, in his speech at the NDA event earlier, paid rich tributes to Bajirao I, calling the military commander a symbol of courage and sovereignty. “If the fight for Swaraj hadn’t been led by Shivaji Maharaj and continued by the Peshwas, India's cultural structure might have ceased to exist,” Shah said. He also referenced Operation Sindoor, hailing India’s current defence leadership and calling upon all citizens to take responsibility for safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

Shinde has not yet officially clarified the intent behind the “Jai Gujarat” remark, but the fallout has already become a trending topic, with political analysts speculating whether this was an inadvertent mistake or a politically motivated gesture.