Mumbai: Stating that he has no desire to snap alliance for ensuing elections to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and 9 other civic bodies, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today issued a veiled threat to his estranged ally BJP saying that he will not tolerate any “twisted” alliance deal.
Uddhav was addressing Shivsainiks on the occasion of Sena’s 50th foundation day here. As he broached the topic of MCGM elections, it evoked a strong chorus from the crowd “no alliance, let us contest alone”. The Sena chief said that he would leave it to the judgement of the Sainiks.
“I will not tolerate any ‘twisted’ alliance deal,” he said. Referring to the debate over holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Uddhav took a dig at frequent foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying, “it would be better if simultaneous polls are held or else it might create constant hurdles in someone’s foreign visits.”
On 50 years of the party’s journey, Uddhav said, “25 years of it went in stitching alliance with the BJP.”
A lion always moves with a pride, but a tiger always moves alone and hunts head-on, Uddhav said.
Lambasting NCP chief Sharad Pawar for advising Sena to leave (both state and Centre) government, he said that it was the NCP, which in order to avert split, had stayed in power for the last 15 years.
Clarifying that he was not criticising for the sake of it, Uddhav said he had praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his leadership.
However, referring to the rising prices of Dal, the Sena chief asked the Chief Minister to do something to at least bring some relief to common man if not ‘Achche Din’ (better days).
Speaking on the recent reports of alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Uddhav reminded the BJP that it was in power at the Centre.
“In Kashmir too it (BJP) is now in alliance and what has it done to gives homes to those Kashmiri Pandits in that state,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the rivals, he said Sena has welcomed people from other parties, but it has always been “the party of originals”.
On critics terming Sena as regional, communal and narrow minded, Uddhav said even (TMC chief) Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal is talking about regionalism when she says ‘Ma, Matti and Manoosh’.
He said like his father late Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, he too “was not desperate for power and would not compromise (for it)”.
Uddhav said that he joined power at the Centre and (in the) state as he did not want people to again fall prey to false promises.
PTI