Mumbai. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday made such a demand that can give sleepless nights to Sharad Pawar as well as Congress. Uddhav insisted that instead of adopting the formula of the party winning the most seats in the assembly elections claiming the post of Chief Minister, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) should declare the face for the post of Chief Minister before the elections. Uddhav Thackeray said that he would support any such candidate declared by the MVA. Sharad Pawar, the head of MVA’s ally Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), did not speak on this controversial issue, but Sharad Pawar stressed the need for a single-point agenda to improve the condition of the state and change the government.
On the other hand, the Congress also advocated focusing on removing the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance from power in Maharashtra. Congress state unit chief Nana Patole said that the leaders of the All India Alliance will decide who will be the chief minister. Addressing MVA party workers here, Thackeray said that if the Lok Sabha elections were held to protect democracy and the Constitution, then the assembly elections are a fight to save the self-respect of Maharashtra. Elections for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly are likely to be held in October or November. Pawar has stressed the need to adopt a single-point agenda to change the government in Maharashtra if the situation in the state is to improve.
What did Sharad Pawar say
Assembly elections are likely to be held in Maharashtra in October or November. The MVA comprises Shiv Sena (Uttar Pradesh), Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress. Sharad Pawar insisted that the chief ministerial candidate should be decided first and not on the basis of the logic of the party winning the most seats in the election. Uddhav Thackeray said that during his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his experience was that whoever has the numbers will get the post of Chief Minister. He termed this policy as harmful, as due to this, one party will try to defeat the candidate of the other party to maintain its lead in the alliance. Thackeray said, ‘First decide (the face of the Chief Minister) and then move forward but do not follow this policy (whoever has the most seats will get the post of Chief Minister).’
Will support the declared candidate- Uddhav
Uddhav Thackeray further said that Uddhav Thackeray will support any candidate declared by the Congress and NCP (SP) as the chief ministerial face of the MVA. I am not fighting for myself but for the rights of Maharashtra. Thackeray asked the MVA workers to rise above personal interests and fight to protect the pride and interest of Maharashtra. He also urged them to become the ‘messenger’ of the opposition alliance in the state. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocating a secular civil code in the country in his address on the occasion of Independence Day, Thackeray questioned whether he has given up Hindutva?
Tags: assembly elections, Maharashtra News, uddhav thackeray
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 16, 2024, 23:59 IST
