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Taking potshots at the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Maharashtra chief minister said there was a power tussle in the alliance for the CM’s post but the voters would not support them in the upcoming polls
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde (Getty)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said there was no race in the Mahayuti for the top position in the state as he mocked the power tussle in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to occupy the CM’s chair.
In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Shinde, while on the campaign trail, also pinned hopes on the voters of the state — particularly women — to ensure his victory in the upcoming Maharashtra elections.
“My voters have come here to support me, I am thankful to them and I am lucky that I have this kind of support. During the Lok Sabha elections, people showed whom the Shiv Sena belongs to and who rightfully carries the bow and arrow symbol. The same mandate will continue in this election too,” he said.
Weighing in on the CM tussle amid murmurs of support among some sections for deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde said there was no race in the Mahayuti. “In MVA, there are some people who want to show their faces and are competing to become the chief minister. When the MVA itself doesn’t like their face, how will Maharashtra voters like them?” he asked.
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Earlier, while unveiling the BJP’s manifesto in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said: “We have Eknath Shinde as our CM now and the alliance partners will decide on the CM face after the elections. We won’t give Sharad Pawar a chance [to win].”
Asked about the battle for the “real” Shiv Sena with his friend-turned- bête noire Uddhav Thackeray, the chief minister said voters had made their choice in the Lok Sabha polls. “We are taking Balasaheb’s ideology further. We got more votes than the Uddhav Thackeray faction, which means Marathi Manoos is with us. The support will multiply by 10 this time.”
He also expressed confidence in the women of the state, saying the ‘Ladki Bahin’ have decided that they will support their ‘Ladka Bhau’ [sons and brothers] and ensure Mahayuti wins. “This is why those who had planned that this scheme should be scrapped will lose because they are against development,” he added.
Talking about MNS, Shinde said the party had not fielded any candidates in the Lok Sabha polls but even though they were in the fray this time, “that doesn’t affect BJP, Shiv Sena or NCP’s vote share because we have massive support amongst people”.
Shinde also attacked the MVA over the manifesto for the polls, calling it “copied” from the Mahayuti. “MVA is trying to copy us. First, they opposed the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme and now they want to give women Rs 3,000. They kept asking us where money will come from. This manifesto has been copied.”
The BJP’s 25-point manifesto for the polls includes crucial promises such as farm loan waiver, raising the Ladki Bahin Yojana cap to Rs 2,100, and generating 25 lakh jobs. Meanwhile, the MVA manifesto released on Sunday offers five guarantees based on the five pillars of progress of Maharashtra — farming and rural development, industry and employment, urban development, environment, and public welfare. It includes a monthly financial aid of Rs 3,000 for women in the state under the Mahalaxmi scheme, along with free bus rides.
“Mahayuti is together and has shown its report card that proves we want to work on the plank of development. We challenge MVA to put their report card forth as well.”
Shinde also sought to clear the air on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Batenge toh Katenge’ remark, saying: “We are fighting this election on development and PM Modi wants people to come together and vote as is the practice in a democracy.”
