Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 13 (ANI): Amid the political heat around the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed claims of opposition that the existence of the ‘Marathi manush’ is under threat in Mumbai.
Targeting emotional campaign rhetoric by rival parties on Monday, Shinde asserted that Marathi pride has never been endangered and expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance will come to power in the civic body, calling it “a saffron line drawn on a black stone.”
“Some people made emotional speeches in this election that this is the last election for saving the existence of ‘Marathi manush’. I want to tell everyone that Marathi people’s existence was never in threat and will never be in threat in Mumbai. Mahayuti will come to power in BMC and this is a saffron line drawn on a black stone,” he said.
Shinde recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from an official foreign visit midway when India faced the horrific Phalgam terror attack; however, he claimed that the Thackerays did not return from London.
“Hindus were killed in Pahalgam. PM Modi left his official foreign visit midway and returned. But they (Thackerays) could not leave London and come back. I have so many things to say. He (Devendra Fadanvis) also has many things to say, but let it be…” he stated.
“You make below the belt comments on u,s but I want to ask that when you broke the corporation of your brother, how much money did you give them when you broke his party. When we left the party, we left everything behind, including our Ministership. Show me any such example where someone left Ministership and left the party…” Shinde added.
The Shiv Sena Chief took a jibe at the opposition over the remarks on development work in Mumbai contributing to the air pollution in the city and flagged the cost hike of the metro project by Rs 10,000 crores.
“You (UBT) stalled the metro work that escalated the cost of the metro project by Rs 10,000 crores. Would we take that money back from your pocket? Now they are saying that due to developmental works in Mumbai, the air is being polluted, and people are getting coughs. We understand the reason behind your cough regarding Mumbai’s development,” Eknath Shinde stated.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. (ANI)