Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray has sounded the Lok Sabha poll bugle from the South Mumbai constituency, which his party had won in the last two elections. But this time the Shiv Sena UBT will be facing its first general elections after the split within the party and break-up with the BJP.
Thackeray, who has taken the reins of campaigning, assured the people at a public rally in South Mumbai on Saturday evening that the “current government, which has taken over power illegally will go away soon and then ‘apna time aayega’ (our time will come)”.
He also targeted the BJP government at Centre for taking away all major projects and establishments from Maharashtra and Mumbai. He mentioned the Vendata Foxconn project, which was supposed to take place in Maharashtra but was transferred to Gujarat. Same was the case with the Bulk Drug Park project, which was planned to start in Maharashtra but was shifted to Gujarat. “I want to ask the Central government why injustice is being done over and over again in the state of Maharashtra. Why all major projects which Maharashtra was supposed to get have been shifted to Gujarat? What is the youth of Maharashtra supposed to do now? This government had promised to generate jobs for youth, but if our state is not going to get any big project, then how will they get jobs?” questioned Thackeray.
He also alleged that the BJP, with the help of ED, IT and CBI, is “threatening everyone who is raising their voice” against them. Leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar faction, Rohit Pawar, who is vocal against the BJP government is being targeted by investigation agencies, Thackeray said. “Many leaders who speak against the BJP government are getting threats from agencies or their offices, and their houses are being raided by agencies,” Thackeray alleged.
Not just two parties, the BJP broke one entire family, said Thackeray. “They (BJP) have the power but they are not using it for the work of people. The central government, which had promised to create jobs has failed in the last nine years. Do you want to vote for such a government again?”
He urged the crowd to vote for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Shiv Sena UBT “who are fighting for the future and not wasting time spreading rumours or false narratives about old issues”.
Thackeray also targeted the Maharashtra government for not completing the infrastructure projects on time. “The MTHL (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link), Digha railway station, Uran railway line projects were delayed and now when they are ready. This government is not opening them to the public as they are not getting dates from the Prime Minister’s Office. But I am warning them if they don’t inaugurate these projects soon, we will inaugurate them,” Thackeray said.
He also slammed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for alleged road and street furniture contract scams. “This state government is favouring contractors as all tenders they float show benefit only them. I exposed this government and BMC’s Rs 6,080 crore road scam. We then questioned them on the Rs 263 crore street furniture contract scam, BMC and the government had no answers. Let me assure you when our government will come in 2024, all culprits will be put behind bars.”
Thackeray deliberately chose South Mumbai to start his campaign as the constituency is represented by Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar, who is expected to deliver judgment on disqualification petitions filed by Shiv Sena MLAs of Shinde and Thackeray factions on January 10. “We expect the Speaker, who is the tribunal in this case, to give his order in favour of truth and expect him to give us justice,” said Thackeray.
The Supreme Court on December 15, 2023 had given Narwekar time till January 10, 2024 to deliver verdict on the row.
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