NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday criticized Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by drawing a parallel between Fadnavis’s previous remarks on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and the current Modi-led BJP government at the Centre. Thackeray highlighted the hollow myth of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) invincibility and marked the MVA’s recent Lok Sabha poll victory as a new beginning, not the end.
Thackeray recalled Fadnavis’s past comment where he likened the MVA government to the “three legs of a rickshaw,” implying instability. Thackeray then applied this analogy to the BJP government at the centre, suggesting it faces similar instability.
Thackeray, along with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, addressed a press conference in Mumbai. They discussed the MVA’s Lok Sabha election victory and strategized for the upcoming state assembly polls.
Thackeray criticized the BJP’s failed promises and questioned the party’s slogan of securing 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. “What happened to the narrative of good days? What happened to Modi’s guarantee?” he asked, highlighting the gap between the BJP’s promises and its performance.
Thackeray celebrated the MVA’s Lok Sabha poll victory as a new beginning, emphasizing the coalition’s commitment to defending constitutional and democratic values. He expressed scepticism about the longevity and stability of the current NDA government, predicting potential changes.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar also took a jab at Prime Minister Modi, ironically thanking him for creating a favourable political atmosphere for the MVA. “Wherever the Prime Minister’s roadshow and rally took place, we won,” Pawar noted, attributing the MVA’s success to the PM’s engagements.
Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan suggested that the Lok Sabha election results could lead to a change in the Maharashtra state government, indicating a possible shift in power dynamics.
Thackeray and Pawar ruled out the possibility of reaccepting party rebels. Both Shiv Sena and NCP experienced splits before the Lok Sabha elections, with factions joining the BJP-led NDA government. Despite some leaders expressing interest in returning, Thackeray and Pawar firmly dismissed such prospects.
This critical stance by Thackeray and the MVA leaders signifies a robust opposition to the BJP’s central and state leadership, highlighting the shifting political landscape in Maharashtra.
