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Taking potshots at Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Maharashtra chief minister said there is a power struggle in the alliance for the post of CM but the voters will not support him in the upcoming polls.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde (Getty)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said there is no race in Mahayuti for the top post in the state as he mocked the power struggle in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to grab the CM’s seat.
In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Shinde, while on the campaign trail, also gave hope to the voters of the state – especially women – to ensure their victory in the upcoming Maharashtra elections.
“My voters came here to support me, I am grateful and I am happy to have this kind of support. During the Lok Sabha elections, people showed who is Shiv Sena and who is legitimate carrying the bow and arrow symbol. The same mandate will continue in this election, ” he said.
Weighing in on the CM fray amid murmurs of support in some quarters for deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde said there is no race in Mahayuti. “In MVA, there are some people who want to show their face and contest for chief ministership. When MVA himself does not like his face, how will the voters of Maharashtra like him?
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Earlier, while unveiling the BJP’s manifesto in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: “We have Eknath Shinde as the CM now and our alliance partners will decide on the face of the CM after the elections. We will not give Sharad Pawar a chance (to win).
Asked about the “real” battle for the Shiv Sena with his fellow bĂȘte noire Uddhav Thackeray, the chief minister said the voters have voted in the Lok Sabha polls. “We are taking Balasaheb’s ideology more. Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, which means Marathi Manoos are with us, support will increase 10 times this time.
He also expressed confidence in the women of the country, saying that the ‘Ladki Bahin’ has decided that they will support their ‘Ladka Bhau’ (son and brother) and ensure Mahayuti’s victory. “That’s why those who have planned this plan should be thrown out will lose because they are against the development,” he said.
Speaking about the MNS, Shinde said that the party has never fielded any candidate in the Lok Sabha polls, but despite being in the fray now, “it does not affect the vote share of BJP, Shiv Sena or NCP because we have huge support among people.”.
Shinde also attacked MVA through his manifesto for the polls, calling it “copied” from 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 keep asking where the money will be copied from.
The BJP’s 25-point manifesto for the polls includes key promises such as farm loan waiver, increasing the Ladki Bahin Yojana cap to Rs 2,100, and generating 25 lakh jobs. Meanwhile, the MVA manifesto released on Sunday offered five guarantees based on the five pillars of Maharashtra’s progress – agriculture and rural development, industry and employment, urban development, environment, and public welfare. This includes monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women in the state under the Mahalaxmi scheme, along with free buses.
“Mahayuti is together and has shown the report card that proves we want to work on the development plank. We challenge the MVA to submit the report card as well.
Shinde also sought to clear the air on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Batenge toh Katenge’ comment, saying: “We are fighting this election on development and PM Modi wants people to come together and vote as practiced in a democracy.”
The term of the current 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly ends on November 26 and the state will see two coalitions – the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar), and the Congress, and the Mahayuti Alliance, which brings together the BJP , Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar) – locking horns for power.
