NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday claimed that during a closed-door meeting, Union home minister Amit Shah instructed BJP leaders to break the Opposition ranks and politically target him and NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar . Thackeray asserted that the people, not the BJP, will determine his political future.
According to Thackeray, Shah's alleged directive to BJP leaders to "stop" him and Pawar politically was given during a private meeting in Nagpur.
"During his recent visit to Nagpur, Amit Shah held a closed-door meeting of BJP leaders where he asked them to split the Opposition ranks and politically stop me and Sharad Pawar. Why speak behind closed doors? He should say this before people," Thackeray said after inaugurating a life-size statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Ramtek city in east Maharashtra.
Thackeray questioned Shah's motives for wanting to eliminate him and Pawar politically, suggesting that it was to enable the BJP to loot Maharashtra. He recalled that despite the BJP ending its three-decade-old alliance with the (undivided) Shiv Sena in 2014, the Sena still managed to secure 63 seats in the assembly elections.
The former chief minister also questioned whether RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat approved of the BJP breaking other parties and poaching opposition leaders.
Thackeray highlighted that the upcoming elections are crucial to prevent Maharashtra from being looted and appealed to the people to ensure a resounding victory for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in all six assembly segments of the Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency.
The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the dates for the Maharashtra legislative Assembly elections, which will be held in 288 constituencies. During a recent visit to Maharashtra, an Election Commission delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar met with stakeholders, including political parties and officials. Kumar said that parties requested the polling panel to consider festivals like Diwali when announcing the election dates.
According to Thackeray, Shah's alleged directive to BJP leaders to "stop" him and Pawar politically was given during a private meeting in Nagpur.
"During his recent visit to Nagpur, Amit Shah held a closed-door meeting of BJP leaders where he asked them to split the Opposition ranks and politically stop me and Sharad Pawar. Why speak behind closed doors? He should say this before people," Thackeray said after inaugurating a life-size statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Ramtek city in east Maharashtra.
Thackeray questioned Shah's motives for wanting to eliminate him and Pawar politically, suggesting that it was to enable the BJP to loot Maharashtra. He recalled that despite the BJP ending its three-decade-old alliance with the (undivided) Shiv Sena in 2014, the Sena still managed to secure 63 seats in the assembly elections.
The former chief minister also questioned whether RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat approved of the BJP breaking other parties and poaching opposition leaders.
Thackeray highlighted that the upcoming elections are crucial to prevent Maharashtra from being looted and appealed to the people to ensure a resounding victory for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in all six assembly segments of the Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency.
The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the dates for the Maharashtra legislative Assembly elections, which will be held in 288 constituencies. During a recent visit to Maharashtra, an Election Commission delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar met with stakeholders, including political parties and officials. Kumar said that parties requested the polling panel to consider festivals like Diwali when announcing the election dates.
