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The Print
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Print
Shinde & Thackeray revive Shiv Sena's classic ‘Marathi manus, sons of soil' pitch ahead of BMC polls
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, addressing party workers at NSCI Dome in Mumbai's Worli, hit back saying the Marathi population was compelled to go out of Mumbai because of 'those who are only remembering the Marathi manus now.' Speaking at the Shanmukhananda auditorium in Sion, Mumbai, Thackeray who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated once again that he is open to reuniting with his estranged brother Raj Thackeray, for the civic body polls without putting it in as many words. He said he is willing to 'do whatever the people of Maharashtra want' to protect the interests of Mumbai, Marathi and Maharashtra. Mumbai: Celebrating Shiv Sena's foundation day Thursday, both Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray sounded the battle cry for Mumbai's civic body, each returning to the party's roots—the Marathi manus, son of the soil. 'It is because you couldn't do anything, Mumbai's Marathi manus were driven out of Mumbai to places like Nalasopara, Badlapur, Vasai, Virar. This is your sin. Over the past 20 years, who ruled Mumbai? Everyone knows,' Shinde said, speaking at the event. Thackeray at his rally said, 'These people don't want Marathi people to come together, that's why they are paying frequent visits.' Thackeray was indirectly taunting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde who have had meetings with Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), ever since talks about the two Thackeray cousins reuniting picked up steam. 'Whether it (the alliance with Raj Thackeray) will happen or not, we will see. You shouldn't bother about it,' added Uddhav Thackeray further alleged that the ruling Mahayuti does not want the Shiv Sena (UBT) to come to power in the Mumbai civic body so that it can continue to protect the interests of the Adani Group. 'You don't have money to give for the Ladki Bahin scheme, for state transport buses, but in Dharavi, stamp duty has been waived for the Adani Group. Where did you get that money from? Everything is free for Adani,' Thackeray said. The Adani Group is redeveloping the Dharavi slum cluster. 'This is not just our fight. In 1960, martyrs shed their blood to ensure we get Mumbai. We will not let that go to waste and let anyone finish the importance of Mumbai,' Thackeray added. Elections to all local bodies in Maharashtra are expected to be held late this year. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which the undivided Shiv Sena had ruled for 25 years till 2022, will also go to polls. The term of the general body lapsed in March 2022 and fresh elections are yet to be held. The Shiv Sena split in June 2022. The battle for the Mumbai civic body is a high-stakes one—for several reasons. The BJP has been aggressively trying to wrest control of the country's richest municipal corporation from the Thackerays, while the Shinde-led Sena is on a mission to prove itself the real Shiv Sena and show that the Thackeray brand's supposed appeal in Mumbai is a thing of the past. For the Shiv Sena (UBT), winning Mumbai is key to the immediate survival of his party especially after its debilitating defeat in the state assembly polls. Hitting back at Uddhav, Shinde said the Shiv Sena (UBT) was looking at Mumbai as a golden goose. 'Their heart is in the coffers of Mumbai. Those who stayed in power (in the Mumbai civic body) for so many years and broke the city's treasury are now remembering Mumbai…Mumbai will continue to stay with Maharashtra. Nobody can break Mumbai from Maharashtra,' Shinde said. The BJP is currently in an alliance—Mahayuti—with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), ruling the Maharashtra government. Leaders from the BJP, as well as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, have informally said that while the three parties will decide whether to have an alliance for each local body poll separately depending on the desires of the ground cadre in that region, the Mahayuti is most likely to fight the BMC election together. On Thursday, Shinde was less than subtle about his ambition of dislodging the Thackerays from the BMC. His party members presented him with a small replica of the BMC headquarters, saying the Mahayuti will rule this edifice post-election. The Deputy CM, at his event, paid tribute to former CM Manohar Joshi, known to have his fair share of differences with Uddhav. Shinde also felicitated Joshi's son, Unmesh, during his party's celebration of Shiv Sena's foundation day. Also read: 4 dead, 32 injured in bridge collapse over Indrayani River near Pune, 10-15 people feared swept away 'Come on, kill me'—Uddhav Thackeray Galvanising the crowd in front of him, Thackeray Thursday borrowed a dialogue from a 1990 Nana Patekar-starrer film, Prahar. 'I am standing here. Come on, kill me,' he urged the BJP and Shinde. 'But, when you come, bring an ambulance along since you will come walking, but will have to go back injured.' Shinde, who delivered his speech at the NSCI dome well after Thackeray had wrapped up his speech, said, 'How can we kill someone who is already dead? People of the state have already finished them in the assembly polls.' The Shiv Sena (UBT) won just 20 of the 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra assembly election last year, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 57 seats. 'I will share a little math with you,' Shinde told his party workers, elaborating how the undivided Shiv Sena's strike rate was 22 percent in 2014, 45 percent in 2019, and in 2024, while Shinde's party contested 80 seats, winning 57, the Shiv Sena (UNT) contested 85, winning just 20. 'This means their strike rate was just 23 percent. They did not get even one-third the votes that our Shiv Sena got,' Shinde said The Deputy CM said his party will contest the upcoming local body polls as an alliance with Mahayuti partners, but said that the details will be shared at a later stage. Shinde, however, stayed away from commenting on a possible Raj-Uddhav alliance. Hindi imposition Speaking at Shanmukhananda, Thackeray dove into the debate over the Modi government's proposed three-language policy and the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students in all Marathi- and English-medium schools starting from the first standard. As per the state's government resolution, Hindi will be the default choice for the third language unless 20 students or more come together and demand a different third language. Speaking on the issue, Thackeray said it was a ploy to divide the state's population. 'They created a divide among Hindus over caste and now they want to divide Marathi vs non-Marathi so that we will fight among us. They want to divert attention from the real news,' Thackeray said. 'They want to impose Hindi, we won't let it be imposed. We are not against Hindi, but I will not allow compulsory Hindi in primary education,' Thackeray said, asking whether Hindi has been imposed in Gujarat. His estranged cousin, Raj Thackeray, has also raised strong opposition to making Hindi compulsory for primary schools as a default third language. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Rakhi gift before polls, now strain on coffers, how Mahayuti's Ladki Bahin scheme has undergone a squeeze
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Mumbaikars want only Mahayuti flag to fly over Mumbai: Maha Minister
Maharashtra BJP chief and state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule slammed Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, saying that Mumbaikars want only the BJP-Mahayuti flag to fly over Mumbai and in the upcoming BMC elections, they will seal it with their verdict. In sharp response to Thackeray's outburst against the BJP and the Mahayuti at a rally on Thursday on the occasion of the party's anniversary, Bawankule said that his speech was nothing but the "frustration of someone spewing helplessness out of fear of defeat". "When public support wanes, the shouting increases. That's exactly what he did. While claiming 'Shiv Sena hasn't ended', you've not only lost the 'Sena' yourself, but by abandoning the two pillars of 'Shiv' and 'Hindutva', Uddhavji, you've bowed at Sonia's feet. It's easy to make personal allegations against respected Modiji, Amitbhai, and Devendraji, but when these leaders were touring across the country and state, Uddhavji was delivering online speeches from Matoshree. The people of Maharashtra have seen this,' said Bawankule. 'Those who say 'Mumbai is ours' should first explain what they've done for the Marathi people in Mumbai. Even when in power at the municipal corporation, did they do anything for the slums, water schemes, education, or healthcare?' the minister asked, referring to Thackeray-led Shiv Sena's inaction during its over two-decade rule in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation. 'Mumbaikars know that the Coastal Road, Metro, Cluster Redevelopment, and Slum Rehabilitation schemes happened because of Devendraji's initiatives. Keep shouting that Mumbai is yours, but if development, safety, and dignity are desired, Mumbaikars want only the BJP-Mahayuti flag to fly over Mumbai,' he claimed. He took a dig at Thackeray, saying, 'Uddhavji, keep spewing venom like this, keep mocking and taunting. Your future life will be spent in this. Public service and welfare require passion in the heart, which you lack. The people of Maharashtra have already realised this. Now, in the upcoming elections, the public will seal it with their verdict.' Thackeray in his speech on Thursday targeted the BJP and alleged that it was trying to prevent the Marathi Manoos from coming together in Mumbai. He accused the BJP of imposing Hindi in schools for Classes 1 to 5. He also took a swipe at the prime minister, saying the "country needs a prime minister, and Modi was just the BJP's PM".
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sharad Pawar hints at continuing alliance with MVA constituents for civic polls: ‘will take a final decision'
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar indicated Friday that the party's pre-poll alliance with constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will continue during the upcoming civic polls, similar to how it was during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra. He also expressed the need to give due importance to the Shiv Sena (UBT) for its strength in Mumbai. 'The Supreme Court has given a timeframe to hold civic polls in the state. It cannot be delayed, and our prediction is that the election process is likely to start in three months. It has not been decided yet but it is our attempt to bring all MVA partners together. We all, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and other small parties will discuss and take a final decision on whether there is willingness to contest the civic polls together,' said Pawar. 'We have not done any discussion but in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is more powerful among us. So that will have to be taken into consideration,' he added. The NCP(SP) chief refused to comment on the war of words between the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) during the Sena's foundation day events on June 19, Thursday. During the function, Shinde accused the Sena (UBT) of looting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), while Uddhav vowed to reclaim Mumbai. Regarding the debate on introducing Hindi language in Maharashtra's schools, Pawar said, 'It should not be made mandatory. However, ignoring it is not in the interest of students. Those who want to learn should be allowed to do so. Students should decide under the guidance of their parents.' The NCP(SP) chief said that around 60 per cent of the country's population speaks Hindi, and the language cannot be ignored as it enables communication with people across the country. Pointing out that the increase in rainfall across the state will boost the groundwater level, Pawar said, 'The situation seems good this time as there will be sufficient availability of water this year. However, if there is damage to crops due to excess rainfall, the state government should provide compensation.'
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"They don't want Marathi parties to unite": Uddhav Thackeray hints at alliance with MNS on Sena foundation day
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 20 (ANI): Indicating that the option of an alliance with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was on the cards, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said he would do what was in the minds of people of the state. The Shiv Sena (UBT) President also took a dig at the Mahayuti alliance, saying that the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister, addressing the party's foundation day event on Thursday, said if the BJP dared to finish Thackeray, then he would 'finish off' the BJP. '... What people want will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP,' Thackeray said. Uddhav said he would not allow the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. He remarked that just ahead of the BMC polls, the imposition of Hindi was nothing but an attempt to create division among Marathis and non-Marathis. 'The imposition of Hindi in the state will not be allowed at any cost. The BJP wants to create a divide between Marathi and Hindi speakers on the eve of civic polls,' the Former Maharashtra CM said. There has been speculation of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) coming together ahead of the BMC polls, which are expected to happen in October this year. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut slammed the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra for the Indrayani River bridge collapse in Pune and asked Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar whether he would take responsibility for the accident, as he is the guardian minister of Pune. 'Ajit Pawar is the guardian minister of Pune, so will he take responsibility for the accident?' Raut said in a press conference here. Four people were killed when an old bridge over the Indrayani River collapsed. He also criticised the Maharashtra government over the daily accidents occurring since it came to power, calling it a 'cursed government' (Panauti Sarkar). He also raised concerns about the demolition of a platform (chabutra) near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Malvan. Referring to an event held there a few months ago, Raut questioned whether corruption was involved. (ANI)
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Loud voice of Marathi people means Shiv Sena": Eknath Shinde lauds party's progress, slams Uddhav Thackeray
Mumbai (Mahrashtra) [India], June 20 (ANI): Hailing Shiv Sena's progress Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the party means 'loud voice' for the Marathi people. He mentioned that the party has faced many challenges in the past 59 years, but has kept growing like a 'banyan tree'. Eknath Shinde was addressing a gathering in Mumbai on Thursday, on the occasion of Shiv Sena Foundation Day. 'This rally is based on Balasaheb's ideas. The other one is about people who are greedy for power. The loud voice of Marathi people means Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena means self-respect, pride, bow and arrow, and our life. In 59 years, Shiv Sena has faced many challenges. The banyan tree of Balasaheb's ideas kept growing; this Shiv Sena is increasing nationwide. Yesterday, the heads of seven states came. Shiv Sena is growing. Many people have to join Shiv Sena', the Maharashtra Deputy CM said. The Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister hit out at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and stated that in 2014, Shiv Sena contested 282 seats and had a strike rate of 22 per cent; however, the party ended up winning 60 out of 80 seats in the 2024 elections. Shinde said whatever, the seats Shiv Sena (UBT) won were because of Congress' 'mercy'. 'In 2014, Shiv Sena contested 282 seats and had a strike rate of 22%. In 2024, it contested 80 seats and won 60 seats. They did not even get 1/3 of the votes of our Shiv Sena. The seats it won were at the mercy of Congress', Eknath Shinde added. Slamming Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde said that his 'arrogance' is leading him to 'destruction.' Shinde said that Maharashtra has never seen such a 'treacherous person' and alleged that he betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray's ' ideas.' 'Arrogance is leading them to destruction. Maharashtra is witness to this. We know who committed the sin of tying Congress around their neck. He was helpless for power and tied his head around his waist. He betrayed Balasaheb's ideas. Maharashtra has never seen such a treacherous person', Eknath Shinde added. (ANI)
