A political storm erupted in Maharashtra on Wednesday after the Maharashtra Congress referred to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as “Gungi Gudiya” (silent doll) in a social media post, prompting strong condemnation from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and calls for an unconditional apology.
The controversy began after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde reportedly intervened to shield Sunetra Pawar from a journalist's question on the law and order situation in Beed district during a media interaction on Tuesday.
The row intensified when the Maharashtra Congress shared a video of the incident on social media, describing Sunetra Pawar as “Gungi Gudiya.” The post triggered a sharp backlash from the NCP, a constituent of the BJP-led Mahayuti government, with party workers staging protests and demanding an apology.
Speaker Narwekar Calls Remark 'Unfortunate'
Reacting to the controversy, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar termed the remark "unfortunate" and said those responsible should publicly express regret and apologise.
"Using such language or improper phrasing against women is unfortunate. Whosoever has used such language ought to express genuine regret and issue an apology for their remarks," Narwekar told reporters in Raigad.
He added that respecting women and honouring mothers and sisters has always been an integral part of Maharashtra's political culture and urged political parties to maintain dignity in public discourse.
Congress Calls Post 'Regrettable'
As criticism mounted, Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal described the social media post as "regrettable," attributing it to a "miscommunication."
Earlier in the day, however, Sapkal had defended the expression, arguing that it referred to Sunetra Pawar's public conduct and silence on key issues and was "neither abusive nor unparliamentary."
NCP Workers Protest, Security Tightened
The social media post sparked protests by workers of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, who gathered outside the Maharashtra Congress office in Mumbai and demanded an unconditional apology.
Police detained several protesters and tightened security around the Congress office to prevent further escalation.
Sunetra Pawar, meanwhile, declined to comment immediately, saying she would respond to the controversy "at an appropriate time."
Fadnavis, Shinde Condemn Remark
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress of lowering the standard of political discourse, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly criticised the remark.
Shinde described the comment as an insult not only to Sunetra Pawar but also to women across Maharashtra, joining other ruling alliance leaders in demanding an apology.
Political Confrontation Deepens
What began as a social media post has now escalated into a wider political confrontation in Maharashtra. With the ruling alliance demanding an apology, NCP workers staging protests, and senior leaders condemning the remark, the controversy has further sharpened the political divide between the Mahayuti government and the opposition Congress.
