Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of "bowing" to Delhi and framed the upcoming assembly elections as a battle against those who "hate" the state.
Speaking at a gathering of party workers in Thane city, a stronghold of Shinde, Thackeray also accused the state government of attempting to "bribe" voters with the recent announcement of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, just months before the elections set for October.
"Women should take benefit of the scheme as it is their own money, but they should not compromise on self-respect," said Thackeray, the former chief minister.
"They are bowing before Delhi," Thackeray asserted, in a direct attack on Shinde, who leads the rival faction of the Shiv Sena. Thackeray reminded his audience that the struggle of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray was rooted in refusing to bow to Delhi.
"The state assembly fight will be with the ones who hate Maharashtra," Thackeray added, underscoring the stakes of the upcoming elections.
As Thackeray arrived for the event at Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium in Thane, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers staged a protest, throwing tomatoes and cow dung at his convoy. Police detained several MNS workers, though Thackeray made no mention of the incident in his speech.
On Friday, supporters of Sena (UBT) had thrown betel nuts at the convoy of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Uddhav's estranged cousin, in Beed city.
Thackeray speculated that the assembly elections could be moved to November to maximise the ruling alliance's benefit from the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides eligible women with ₹1,500 per month.
"My Sainiks (Sena workers) are my 'wagh nakh', which is why I do not fear Abdali," said Thackeray, referring to his party workers as his "tiger claws."
Last month, Thackeray likened BJP leader Amit Shah to "Ahmed Shah Abdali" after the Union home minister accused him of leading the "Aurangzeb fan club." The 'wagh nakh' or tiger claw, a weapon famously used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to kill Bijapur sultanate general Afzal Khan in 1659, is currently on display at a museum in Satara.
Thackeray also criticised the allocation of civic contracts in Thane, alleging that they were being given to a select few contractors, leaving the Thane Municipal Corporation in poor financial condition.
He urged party workers to focus on verifying electoral rolls to prevent bogus voting and to ensure the party’s 'flaming torch' symbol reached every voter in the constituency.
Follow us
