The erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra plotted to arrest top state BJP leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, Girish Mahajan, Prasad Lad, and Pravin Darekar in a bid to break the saffron party, chief minister Eknath Shinde alleged in an explosive interview with News18 Lokmat on Thursday.
His remarks came just a day ahead of voting for 88 seats across 13 states in the second round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Eight constituencies in Maharashtra will also see polling.
The general elections this time in Maharashtra will be unique as the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have both been split, with one faction from each joining the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are in an alliance with the Congress in the form of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. While BJP ally and chief minister Eknath Shinde has the Shiv Sena name and symbol, the same is the case with deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the NCP, which may play a crucial role in the polls.
Shinde took several digs at Uddhav Thackeray during the interview. “Balasaheb Thackeray fought for the party (Shiv Sena), Uddhav Thackeray fought for personal interest,” he said.
Eknath Shinde and several legislators broke away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led unified Shiv Sena in June 2022 and formed the government with the backing of the BJP.
“I did not do any work under pressure. I was sidetracked by Uddhav’s son,” he told News18 Lokmat. “I was never against Aaditya Thackeray.”
Uddhav Thackeray didn’t want a mass leader in the party, and just wanted a “Yes Boss” culture, he claimed.
The CM also praised Uddhav’s estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who recently joined the Mahayuti.
“Raj Thackeray’s heart is big; he is a man of open mind,” said Shinde.
The Bombay High Court will resume hearing the challenge to the 10% quota in jobs and education for Marathas under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category in Maharashtra on June 13. This means the court will decide on the pleas seeking an interim stay on the state’s SEBC Act, 2024, only after the Lok Sabha elections are over on June 4.
Speaking on the issue, Shinde said he had done everything to get reservation for Marathas.
On February 20, the Maharashtra assembly unanimously passed the Bill giving 10% quota to Marathas. A challenge was filed in the HC on March 1, four days after the law was notified.
The Shiv Sena chief also responded to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioning the source of income of the charity organisation controlled by the CM’s son and MP Shrikant Shinde.
“Those who committed scams have no right to point fingers at the Shrikant Shinde Foundation,” he said. “There is a difference between making an allegation and proving an allegation.”
A farmer’s son becoming chief minister was not digestible to some, said Shinde.
Shrikant Shinde, a two-time MP and orthopaedic surgeon-turned-politician, will be contesting the Kalyan seat in Thane district near Mumbai. Interestingly, the announcement of his candidacy was not made by Eknath Shinde, the chief leader of Shiv Sena, but by BJP’s deputy chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Amid buzz in the Mahayuti about some opposition to his son’s nomination, Eknath Shinde said, “People made Shrikant Shinde a candidate and Fadnavis announced it. Those who gave the challenge should have stood against Shrikant Shinde.”
Those whose tickets have been cut will be rehabilitated, the CM said.
He also responded to opposition leaders attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged anti-Muslim remarks. “We are not against patriotic Muslims. Modi is against Pakistani Muslims,” Shinde said.
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