Virtually kicking off the campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray issued a strong challenge to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, declaring, “Either you will survive or I will,” sparking protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a pre-election meeting with party workers and leaders from Mumbai, Thackeray stated, “We endured everything but stood firm and taught the BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections.”
“Our party was broken, we were targeted by central probe agencies, money power was used against us, and they even wanted to throw us in jail… But we survived everything and emerged victorious,” Thackeray said to thunderous applause.
The former Chief Minister recalled how ex-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had informed him that Fadnavis was plotting to imprison both Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray.
Adopting a ‘do or die’ stance, Thackeray warned Fadnavis that “if you act straight we shall be straight, but if you play crooked, we shall do likewise,” adding that “now, either you will stay or I will.”
He also reminded the audience how the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition won 4 out of 6 Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, noting that this success unsettled top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Listening to PM Modi’s speeches has become painful now… After our Lok Sabha performance, even PM Modi broke out in a sweat,” Thackeray said.
Responding to BJP’s claims that his party only received minority votes in the Lok Sabha elections, Thackeray recounted an incident where a large number of Muslims assured him they had no issues with his Hindutva ideology.
Referring to the BJP as a “party of crooks,” Thackeray claimed that national Opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav had commended him, saying: “Uddhavji, you have shown a direction to the country.”
“I was never elected as a municipal corporator, I directly became the CM… I did everything possible. This (Assembly elections) is the last challenge for you. They broke the party. Sena is not a rusty sword, but a sharp weapon, and we must fight to save Mumbai and the state. They must be given a befitting reply,” Thackeray declared.
Claiming that those who left the party now want to return, Thackeray reiterated that those who want to leave can go, but “we will continue the political fight with our Shiv Sainiks as our name has put fear in them.”
Thackeray also addressed the confusion over the Shiv Sena name and poll symbol, which were allotted to the group led by CM Eknath Shinde, asserting that “the Supreme Court verdict will come in our favour.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including state President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Pravin Darekar, and others, lashed out at Thackeray, accusing him of “sowing communal divisions among the people,” and asserting that “you will have to take 100 births before finishing Fadnavis’ politics.”
Bawankule claimed Thackeray had forgotten how he got his MPs elected in Narendra Modi’s name but betrayed the BJP as Chief Minister by plotting to jail Fadnavis, “but with people’s blessings, he could not succeed.”
The state BJP chief alleged Pakistani flags were seen at Thackeray’s meetings in Nashik and Mumbai, accusing him of provoking elements to polarize different communities.
Mungantiwar asserted that the late Balasaheb Thackeray would never have allied with Congress, unlike Uddhav Thackeray, who abandoned Hindutva for power.
Darekar condemned Thackeray’s ‘personal threats’ to the Deputy CM, calling his comments signs of failure and helplessness, but stated that “in the Assembly elections, PM Modi is not required as Shinde-Fadnavis are sufficient for you.”
Shelar accepted Thackeray’s challenge, asserting that the BJP would ensure Shiv Sena (UBT) is shown its place in the upcoming elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders like Chandrakant Khaire, Kishori Pednekar, and Kishore Tiwari praised Thackeray for his bold speech, reminding everyone that “he is the scion of Balasaheb Thackeray.”
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