nTaking an indirect jibe at the Maharashtra Congress for its announcement about contesting the 2024 State Assembly polls on its own strength, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said here on Saturday that if any party within the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) at this critical juncture talked about going it alone in the Assembly polls, the people would slap the political parties with footwear.
Speaking at the Shiv Sena’s 55 foundation day, Uddhav — who is also the Sena president — said, “Some people are talking about the State Assembly polls on their own strength. We should understand what
going it alone means. We should not talk about going it alone for the sake of elections. The party or people concerned talk about our strength on all issues. If you do not have self confidence in yourselves, we cannot help it”.
Taking an indirect pot shot at Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole who has gone to town saying that his party would contest the forthcoming local body and Stare Assembly separately, Uddhav said, “We do not know as to how long the corona crisis will last in the State. We should realise that in the post-Covid 19 period, we will have bigger problems on hand. In other words, we will have to contend with a major financial crisis. All of us are thinking as to what will happen to us. Already people have lost jobs in a big way. This is the time when we should rise above politics and come together and work. That being the case, if some people talk about going it alone in the polls, then people will slap such people with footwear”
Uddhav, who heads the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, said: “ My grandfather and my father late Balasabeb used to say that we can not do anything if we do not have self confidence. They would say that if we have confidence we can survive in any part of the world. It was the confidence that my father had resulted in the birth of the Shiv Sena. At that time Maharashtrians used to be looked down upon by others. But for the formation of the Shiv Sena, Maharashtrians would continue to be ridiculed in their own state”.
Uddhav’s indirect criticism of the Congress came two days after the Shiv Sena—in an editorial published in its official mouth-piece “Saamana” had taken exception to the Congress’ announcement of going it alone in the State Assembly polls. The Sena had said that the 2024 polls were still far away, and had sought to know if there were any plans to have mid-term polls.
“Since all the major political parties have started talking about going solo, the Sena and the NCP will have to contest the next polls together in the interest of Maharashtra,” the editorial had said.
The Sena had said that although the Congress was an important constituent of the MVA government, it was in the third position.
“Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has announced that his party would fight the next Assembly elections on its own and install a chief minister of the Congress. He has also said that if the party allows, he himself would be the next chief ministerial face. Hence, it is clear that until Patole installs a Congress chief minister in Maharashtra in 2024, he won’t sit quiet,” the Sena editorial had said.
“However, Deputy Chief Minister (and NCP leader) Ajit Pawar has said that those who get the support of 145 legislators (in the 288-member Assembly), will form the next government and the CM will be decided by them. His statement is also valid. Parliamentary democracy is all about majority figures. Those who succeed in it, will be able to occupy the throne,” it said.
“There is nothing wrong in harbouring political ambitions, but numbers are required for their fulfilment. Ahead of the last Assembly elections, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had said he would return to power. But he could not do so,” the editorial had said.