Shiv Sena's (UBT) leader, Uddhav Thackeray, reiterated his call for Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to consider leaving the BJP if he feels disrespected, emphasizing that the opposition in Maharashtra stands ready to support his candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a gathering in Pusad, situated in the eastern region of Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, Thackeray highlighted the absence of Nitin Gadkari's name from the BJP's initial list of candidates. He compared this to the inclusion of figures like Kripashankar Singh, previously targeted by the BJP for alleged corruption, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I conveyed this message to Gadkari two days ago, and I'm reiterating it now. If you're facing disrespect, consider joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance (comprising of Sena(UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress). We'll ensure your victory and offer you a ministerial position with substantive authority once our government assumes power," Thackeray affirmed.
Responding to Thackeray's offer last week, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis derided the Sena (UBT) chief's proposal, likening it to an ordinary person on the street aspiring to make someone the President of the United States.
Although Gadkari holds prominence within the BJP, Fadnavis clarified that the absence of Maharashtra's candidates in the first list stemmed from ongoing discussions on seat-sharing between the BJP and its allies.
Thackeray also criticized the recent notification of rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, labeling it as mere election rhetoric. While he expressed openness to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, and others fleeing persecution in neighboring countries, he questioned the timing of the notification, suggesting political motives ahead of impending elections.
Pointing to the prolonged absence of elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the failure to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes, Thackeray urged the BJP to prioritize these issues over the implementation of the CAA.
Thackeray framed the forthcoming elections as a battle between those fostering communal discord and seeking to alter the Constitution, represented by the BJP, and the INDIA bloc, an alliance of patriotic forces. He underscored the need for unity among "desh-bhakts" (patriots) against those promoting "dvesh bhakti" (hatred).
Finally, Thackeray criticized Prime Minister Modi's failure to address the unrest in Manipur, suggesting a disconnect with the concerns of the region.
Read also | Internal Discord within TMC in Murshidabad, Bengal, Regarding Yusuf Pathan's Nomination
Read also | Offering a Lok Sabha Seat: Uddhav Thackeray's Move Spurs BJP Retaliation
