Maharashtra politics: Uddhav Thackeray won elections in Modi's name and betrayed him, says CM Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. File Pic

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for breaking his party's "natural alliance" with the BJP and using the names of Bal Thackeray and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to win elections.

Eknath Shinde, who has set out on a statewide tour in the wake of the NCP led by Ajit Pawar joining the ruling alliance, was speaking at a rally in Thane.

"These people sought votes using their (Bal Thackeray and Modi's) photos and then ditched them by joining hands with the Congress. They deserted voters and misused people's mandate for power. Who are the real traitors? Just because we don't stoop low, doesn't mean we will not speak. If we start speaking, they will have no place to show their face," said CM Eknath Shinde.

PM Modi fulfilled Sena founder Bal Thackeray's dream of scrapping Article 370 but Uddhav Thackeray betrayed the prime minister, Shinde claimed.

"Balasaheb Thackeray's dream of scrapping Article 370 was done by PM Narendra Modi and you betrayed him. We stepped out of power to uphold the ideals shown by Thackeray and Dharamveer Anand Dighe," said Shinde, adding, "keeping Balasaheb's ideals alive is the sole purpose of our lives."

Many people can not digest his government's accessibility and the doors of his official residence 'Varsha' are always open for all unlike in the past, the chief minister said.

The BJP behaved with honesty in its alliance with the Sena, Shinde said, adding that the saffron party could have staked claim to power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the 2017 polls but allowed the Sena to continue its reign.

"If the BJP wanted to, it could have staked claim on the BMC as they had enough numbers, but Devendra Fadnavis showed his large-heartedness and allowed Shiv Sena to stake claim and today they are calling him names," said Shinde.

Talking about the one year of his government, Shinde said that the pace at which work is being done by him and Deputy Chief Minister has not been seen previously.

"No decisions were taken in the two-and-half years of the previous government," he said, referring to the Thackeray-led regime. "To add to our pace, we now have Ajit Pawar with us," Shinde added.

CM Eknath Shinde further said that his government had the blessings of the people and now has the support of over 200 MLAs.