Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced that he will support any chief ministerial face announced by ally Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) in the opposition alliance to ‘save’ Maharashtra. In such a situation, the question is arising whether Uddhav Thackeray has ruled himself out of the CM race? Thackeray’s party is included in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He made this announcement at a time when his ally Congress suffered a setback in Haryana and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to form the government for the third consecutive time.
Addressing a civil society event in Mumbai, former Chief Minister Thackeray alleged that the Maharashtra government was probably trying to present a fake narrative through advertisements ahead of next month’s assembly elections. Thackeray criticized the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ coalition government’s ambitious ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, claiming that the government was forcing people to betray ‘Maharashtra Dharma’ by giving away their own money (through the scheme).
Fierce attack on Shinde government
Under the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme of the Maharashtra government, financial assistance of Rs 1500 is given every month to eligible women. Taking a dig at the grand alliance government of Chief Minister Ennath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), he said, “It is raining assurances, but there is a drought in terms of implementation of schemes.” ”
It is noteworthy that elections for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly are likely to be held next month. Thackeray said, “I had said the same then and am saying the same now that Congress or NCP (SP) should declare some face (for the post of Chief Minister). Congress and NCP (SP) should speak in one voice. I will support any face announced by him, because I love my Maharashtra…. My resolve is to do anything to save Maharashtra.
Thackeray is already in favor of the announcement of CM candidate
Thackeray had in August insisted that instead of the chief minister being chosen by the party winning the most seats after the elections, the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) should declare the chief ministerial face before going to the polls. He had also said that he would support any chief ministerial candidate declared by Congress or NCP (SP). Congress and NCP (SP) had then made it clear that they do not want to go to this area (in the face of the Chief Minister) till the results of the assembly elections are out.
At an event organized on Tuesday, Thackeray accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of erecting a ‘wall’ between Gujarat and the rest of the country. He said that there was never any ‘Gujarati-Marathi’ dispute in Maharashtra. The former Chief Minister said that the ‘sons of the land’ should get justice but it does not mean that his party is anyone’s enemy. He said, “Our fight is with those forces who are anti-India and anti-Maharashtra.”
