11 June,2024 02:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Chandrakant Patil. File Pic
BJP leader Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday said though Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a great deal of efforts during the Lok Sabha elections 2024 campaign, the allies Congress and NCP (SP) seem to have benefitted more than his own party, reported news agency PTI.
Thackeray was not keeping well but he still campaigned hard, said Patil, a senior Maharashtra minister, at an event in Mumbai.
"Uddhav Thackeray's health was not in good condition, still he took a lot of efforts. I was worried about his health. However, the outcome indicates that NCP (SP) and Congress benefitted more from his efforts than his own party," he said, reported PTI.
"When Thackeray was with BJP, his party had won 18 Lok Sabha seats. With Congress and NCP (SP), he ended up winning nine seats. He needs to introspect," Patil further said, reported PTI.
Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 21 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, but won only nine in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Congress, on the other hand, contested 17 and won 13. Congress leader and rebel candidate in Sangli Lok Sabha constituency also won and later extended support to the party. The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) contested 10 seats and won eight.
Patil further taunted Thackeray saying, "Thackeray also earned a tag of winning due to the votes of minorities. An MNS leader has also put it succinctly, saying the colour of Uddhav's victory is not saffron but green," reported PTI.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting with party functionaries on Monday here as part of the strategy for the Maharashtra Assembly elections to be held in the second half of the year.
The party won nine seats in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, though it had contested from 21 of the 48 constituencies in the state.
The meeting was attended by party functionaries, including district heads and other key persons.
(With inputs from PTI)
