In a blistering attack against its alliance partner BJP, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today proclaimed that he does not require Amit Shah or Devendra Fadnavis to fulfil the promise he made to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of installing a Shiv Sena chief minister in Maharashtra.
Uddhav Thackeray: I had promised Balasaheb that there will be a Shiv Sena Chief Minister one day, and I will fulfill that promise, I don’t need Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis for that. pic.twitter.com/F1T1m0mhGn
— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2019
Perturbed by Devendra Fadnavis’s assertion that 50-50 formula was never discussed with the Shiv Sena, Thackeray trained guns against the outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and contended that he is lying through his teeth. Furthermore, Uddhav declared the suspension of talks with the BJP till the time they accept that they are lying about the agreement over rotational chief minister’s post.
Thackeray said that he was “hurt” by the BJP’s insinuations that the agreement over rotational chief minister’s post had never happened with the Shiv Sena. He said that the alliance was based on the shared principle of Hindutva but if the BJP was lying, that was against Hindutva. “I will talk to Sangh about this. Lying is not a part of Hindutva. If they are lying, then that is false Hindutva,” Thackeray said.
In a scathing attack against the BJP, Thackeray said, “It is sad that while cleaning Ganga, your hearts have become polluted. I feel bad that we entered into an alliance with the wrong people.”
Uddhav Thackeray: It is very sad that while cleaning the Ganga their minds became polluted. I felt bad that we entered into an alliance with the wrong people pic.twitter.com/3ikVu9bdbv
— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2019
Challenging BJP to stake a claim at the formation of government in the state, Uddhav said that his party has other options before them. “If BJP thinks they can form government in the state, they should go ahead and stake a claim. We have other options before us. The fate of the alliance rests with the BJP,” Thackeray said.
Earlier today, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tendered his resignation to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. Following his resignation, Fadnavis stated that the 50-50 formula which the Shiv Sena is continuously harping upon was never discussed. Fadnavis also slammed Uddhav Thackeray saying that despite seeking votes in the name of the alliance, Thackeray was open to negotiations with others for the formation of the government. He had also strongly objected to the language used by Shiv Sena leaders for BJP and PM Modi. Fadnavis said that going by the comments of Shiv Sena leaders, it is clear that they don’t want to continue the alliance with BJP.