Nagpur: In a moment that blended politics with poetry, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday served up a colourful description of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling him “Sweet as Orange and Spicy as Saoji” — a line that instantly grabbed the audience’s attention and sparked fresh buzz in political circles.
Shinde was speaking at Lok Bhavan during the launch of ‘Bharatiya Samvidhan – Gauravshali Amrutsavachi Vaatchal’, a book inspired by Fadnavis’ highly praised speech delivered during the Constitution Amrit Mahotsav session of the Maharashtra Assembly.
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Using the Orange–Saoji analogy, Shinde said Fadnavis had mastered the rare political art of delivering sharp criticism without malice. “Even when something unpleasant must be said, he says it with balance,” Shinde remarked, adding that Fadnavis handles trolling, attacks and pressure with patience, humour and composure.
He went a step further, drawing a Bollywood comparison: “Amitabh may be Big B of Bollywood, but Devendra is Big D in the House — and don’t take D the wrong way. D is for devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and daring.”
Governor Acharya Devvrat, who released the book, said it simplifies the Constitution for the common citizen, helping people understand their rights and responsibilities. “The Constitution has strengthened unity, brotherhood and democracy. It is the reason India is emerging as one of the world’s largest economies,” he said, calling for the book to be translated into multiple languages.
Fadnavis, reflecting on his Assembly speech, said India’s Constitution was crafted with extraordinary vision at a time of political turbulence. “Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar studied global democracies but rooted our Constitution in India’s timeless civilizational values,” he said. He recalled earlier attempts to make the Union Budget more accessible to citizens and expressed delight that his Constitution speech has now taken book form.
Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar said the book would help bridge the gap between people and constitutional understanding. A digital version will soon be available on the Legislative Assembly website.
The event also featured a congratulatory message from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and an audio-visual showcasing Fadnavis’ political journey, rounding off an evening filled with warmth, wit and political symbolism.
