Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Politicians get into political slugfest a day after hoarding collapse claim 14 lives in Ghatkopar – The Economic Times Video

    A day after a hoarding collapse in Mumbai killed 14 persons and injured several others, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya asked how the permission for erecting the billboard was given by a police officer when the city civic body is the authority for it. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the former MP also claimed permissions for the hoarding and a petrol pump (where the billboard collapsed) were given when Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister of Maharashtra.

  • Hoarding collapse: How nod for billboard given by police instead of BMC? asks Kirit Somaiya

    Mumbai: A day after a hoarding collapse in Mumbai killed 14 persons and injured several others, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya asked how the permission for erecting the billboard was given by a police officer when the city civic body is the authority for it. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the former MP also claimed permissions for the hoarding and a petrol pump (where the billboard collapsed) were given when Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister of Maharashtra.

    Had the then director general of police been strict, such a hoarding would not have come up, he said.

    Somaiya also said the permission on paper was given for a 40 feet hoarding whereas the billboard which collapsed was 120 feet tall. The billboard fell at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during dust storms and unseasonal rains that lashed Mumbai on Monday, killing 14 persons and injuring 74. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States “An ACP of railway police, which is part of the Maharashtra state police force, gave permission for the erection of the hoarding on December 7, 2021. How can a police officer give such permission when such rights lie with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)? The permission on paper was for a 40 feet hoarding, but in reality, it was 120 feet high,” Somaiya said. “I believe that there are similar 400 hoardings in various parts of Mumbai, which are exceeding their size limits and standing on a weak foundation like the one in Ghatkopar,” he said. Somaiya said he has requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to get such dangerous hoardings removed across Mumbai immediately. The land on which the petrol pump and the hoarding came up was given to the railway police wing of the Maharashtra Police, he said.

    It was then handed over to the Police Welfare Fund, Somaiya said, adding that of the total size of the land, around 40,000 square feet plot was given to some institution and later reserved for petrol pump.

    “After the fuel station came up, then ACP (Admin) Shahaji Nikam of railway police gave permission for the erection of the advertisement hoarding near it. It was illegal, but nobody took it up,” he claimed.

    The fuel station received permission on January 30, 2020, the BJP leader said.

    “It was run by Commissioner of Police Mumbai Railway Kalyan Nidhi Sanstha, but its operations and staff management were with the Lords Mark Industries Pvt Ltd. The monthly rent of the fuel station was Rs 16,97,440,” he said.

    Somaiya said he tried to find out details of the ownership of Lords Mark Industries, but its owners changed several times in the last couple of years.

    “All the permissions for the fuel station and hoardings were given when Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister of Maharashtra. But I am not keen on politicising the issue. The focus should be on Bhavesh Bhinde of the Ego Media Pvt Ltd, the advertising agency responsible for erecting the hoarding near the fuel station and the police officials who gave permissions,” he said.

    “Had the then director general of police been strict, such hoarding would not have come up,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Tuesday posted a clip on his X handle showing the hoarding collapsing and said such an incident was unacceptable.

    “And we’re a city trying to transform itself into a modern metropolis. CM Shinde has ordered a probe into all hoardings. Stringent rules must follow,” he added.

    A case has been registered against Bhavesh Bhinde and others for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at Pant Nagar police station, an official earlier said.

    The BMC on Monday issued a notice to the advertisement agency for installing the hoarding that collapsed on the petrol pump during the gusty winds.

    The Assistant Police Commissioner (Admin) had given permission for erecting four hoardings on behalf of the Commissioner of Railway Police, Mumbai, including the one which collapsed on Monday, but no official permission or NOC was obtained from the BMC, as per a civic official.

  • Shiv Sena: Fadnavis told me in 2019 he will groom Aaditya as next CM and will move to Delhi: Uddhav Thackeray

    Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has claimed the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told him in 2019 that he would groom his son Aaditya Thackeray as the next CM of Maharashtra as part of the power-sharing agreement between their parties. Thackeray also said Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader, had told him that he would move to the Centre in the next two to three years. Addressing a rally in Dharavi on Saturday, Thackeray claimed the then BJP chief Amit Shah had come to ‘Matoshree’, the private residence of the Thackerays, to seek an alliance with Shiv Sena (undivided). “At that time, Fadnavis was made to sit outside the room of late Bal Thackeray while the two leaders (Shah and Thackeray) discussed modalities,” he claimed. It was assured to me that the post of chief minister will be shared for 2.5 years (between BJP and Sena-undivided), he said. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”Later, Devendra Fadnavis told me, Uddhav Ji, I will groom Aaditya for 2.5 years. We can make him CM after 2.5 years. I told him (Fadnavis) that he (Aaditya) is just starting his electoral career. Do not put anything like this in his mind,” Thackeray said. When I asked Fadnavis how a senior leader like him would work under Aaditya, he (Fadnavis) said he would move to Delhi, the former CM added. The claim evoked a sharp reaction from Fadnavis, current deputy chief minister in the Mahayuti government of BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Ajit Pawar, who said Thackeray has “lost his mind”. “Uddhav Thackeray has become ‘bhramishta’ (delirious). He is hallucinating. Initially, he said Amit Shah promised him a chief ministership in some room. Now he says I promised to make his son a CM. To hide one falsehood, another lie is being told,” Fadnavis said.

    He, however, admitted to having told Thackeray that Aaditya should be trained as he will eventually take control of the party (Shiv Sena) one day.

    “Leave alone making him (Aaditya) a chief minister, I wouldn’t make him even a minister. He (Aaditya) became a minister later (when MVA was in power) which landed the Shiv Sena (UBT) in its current situation today,” Fadnavis said.

    In his speech, Thackeray slammed Fadnavis for his reference to “some room” during his talks with Shah and said the room of Bal Thackeray is like a temple.

    Later Fadnavis posted on X, “We respect late Balasaheb Thackeray because he was always true to his word and never deviated from his ideals. We don’t respect those who sacrificed the ideals of the late leader.”

    “Who are you trying to fool by speaking imagined scripts? You are misleading yourself,” he stated while slamming Thackeray.

    Fadnavis further said that Maharashtra’s “socio-politics” and development is not a “Salim-Javed” script.

    “You have nothing to do with politics and development. So don’t try to get involved in such scripts. You will get a befitting reply,” he said.

    Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said there is a limit to speaking lies.

    “He (Uddhav) wanted to become chief minister. As he couldn’t become a CM when he was part of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, he switched sides,” Shinde told reporters, referring to Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (undivided) joining hands with the NCP (undivided) and the Congress after the 2019 assembly elections.

    Notably, a split engineered by Shinde led to the collapse of the Thackeray-led MVA government in June 2022.

  • Ram temple consecration: Ram temple consecration: Uddhav sent invitation by speed post; Sanjay Raut slams govt

    Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has been sent an invitation by speed post for the Ram temple consecration ceremony to be held in Ayodhya on Monday. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut hit out at the government over the manner in which the Thackeray family has been treated.

    Maharashtra minister Uday Samant, who belongs to the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said speed post is used to ensure the invitation reaches faster and it has been done.

    However, Raut reacted sharply to the speed post invite saying, “You worship Lord Ram, and rule like Ravan (demon king). Lord Ram will curse you. All film stars are invited but the Thackeray family that has been closely associated with movement is treated in such a manner.” Uddhav Thackeray will be in Nashik for a two-day visit from Monday.

    He will offer prayers at the Kalaram temple there and perform a ‘maha aarti’ on the Godavari river bank on Monday.

    On Tuesday, he will participate in a day-long convention of his party in Nashik. The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held in Ayodhya city of Uttar Pradesh on Monday in a grand ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened for the public a day later. While more than 7,000 people are in the long list of invitees, the select list features 506 A-listers.

    Those attending the “Pran Prathishtha” also include people linked to the agitation for the temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi.

    Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar are among the prominent people to be invited.

    Almost all opposition leaders invited to the ceremony have declined to attend the ceremony, with the Congress calling it a BJP-RSS event.

  • Speaker’s order is murder of democracy, will move Supreme Court: Uddhav Thackeray

    Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s decision holding that the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was the real Shiv Sena was a murder of democracy, and his party will move the Supreme Court against it.

    Speaking at a press conference, Thackeray said the apex court had given clear guidelines, but those were ignored by the Speaker while giving his ruling on disqualification petitions filed by the rival Sena factions. The original case was about disqualification under the anti-defection law, but not one lawmaker from either side was disqualified, he said.

    “The foundation on which the order stands is wrong. This is a murder of democracy and an insult to the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that neither the apex court nor the people will accept this decision. His party will approach the SC against the ruling, and will also examine if a contempt petition can be filed against the Speaker, Thackeray said. He would request the apex court to give its decision on the case before the elections, he added. The court had accepted the authority of the whip of the Thackeray faction (Sunil Prabhu) and its group leader (Ajay Chowdhary), he said.

    Narwekar, in his ruling, said Prabhu ceased to be the authorised whip when the split in the party became apparent on June 21, 2022. “Shiv Sena will never be finished and the people of Maharashtra will not accept the Sena of these traitors,” Thackeray, who stepped down as chief minister after Shinde’s rebellion in June 2022, said.

  • Uddhav Thackeray: My detractors see me in their dreams, know people of Maharashtra are with me: Uddhav Thackeray

    Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said his detractors see him in their dreams despite stealing the party’s name and symbol and also know the people of Maharashtra are with him. The former chief minister was addressing supporters at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra in the western part of the metropolis.

    “Despite stealing my party’s name and symbol, detractors see me in their dreams. They know Uddhav Thackeray is not alone, all of Maharashtra is with him,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said.

    “Love and affection are not for sale. These emotions cannot be purchased,” Thackeray asserted. Referring to some political workers rejoining Shiv Sena (UBT) in Ulhasnagar, part of Thane district, which is a stronghold of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said the battle ahead was but struggles can be overcome with all loyalists sticking together and fighting.

    Speaking on the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, Thackeray said that day he would offer prayers at Kalaram Temple in Nashik and perform ‘maha aarti’ on the banks of Godavari river.

    He also said he would tour Kalyan Lok Sabha seat, which is represented by Shrikant Shinde, the son of CM Shinde. The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Shinde and several MLAs revolted, bringing down the MVA government under Thackeray.

    Shinde’s outfit was given the ‘Shiv Sena’ name and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol by the Election Commission of India.

  • Uddhav Thackeray: Uddhav Thackeray tries to soothe frayed nerves as Congress fumes over Sanjay Raut’s remarks on Lok Sabha seats

    Amid a row over Sanjay Raut’s remarks that Shiv Sena (UBT) would contest 23 of the 48 seats in upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he won’t do anything that would hurt the MVA alliance. His remarks are seen as a snub to Raut whose “23 seats for Shiv Sena” statement ruffled many feathers in Congress, an ally in the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

    Talking to reporters here, Thackeray said the ticket distribution will take place smoothly and that he has spoken to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi.

    A day before, Raut had caused a flutter saying Shiv Sena (UBT) would contest 23 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. He had also said the seat-sharing talks with Congress would have to “start from zero” as the latter had “not won any seat’” in the previous elections, a statement drawing a sharp response from state Congress leaders.

    “I will not do anything that will hurt the MVA. So I will not pay attention to those who say anything. Until the Congress president speaks on this issue (seat-sharing), till that time, neither I nor anyone from my side will comment,” Thackeray said.

    The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also said the ticket distribution will take place smoothly. “The discussion between the Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) has been smooth,” he added. Thackeray also said efforts are on to have a joint meeting with MVA members- Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction)- and Prakash Amedbkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

    While Shiv Sena (UBT) and VBA have already forged an alliance, no call was yet taken on the induction of the Ambedkar-led outfit in the MVA fold and any electoral tie-up.

    In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Shiv Sena (Undivided) won 18 of the 23 seats it had contested in Maharashtra while its ally BJP bagged 23 of 25 constituencies. The NCP (undivided) emerged victorious on 4 seats while Congress’ tally was just one seat.

  • Uddhav warns of payback for those targeting his party; Shinde accuses him of betraying Hindutva

    By Agencies

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said those harassing his party will face consequences when it returns to power, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who heads a rival faction accused him of “burying” the Hindutva ideology.

    The two Shiv Senas held their separate Dussehra rallies in the city on Tuesday evening.

    Speaking at Shivaji Park, the traditional venue of the party’s Dussehra rally, Thackeray also batted for coalition governments. Attempts were being made to “steal” the Shiv Sena, he said.

    “After we come to power, we will hang upside down those who are harassing us,” Uddhav said.

    Targeting the BJP, his friend-turned-foe, Thackeray said there should be a strong government, but not of “any one party with a brute majority.”

    Uddhav said the parties who used to target the BJP by questioning the timeline for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya are feeling embarrassed now. “They have lost their face. How will they go to Ayodhya now?” he asked.

    Speaking at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, Shinde slammed Thackeray for forming an alliance with Congress and the Samajwadi Party while “burying Hindutva thoughts” of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

    “At one time Uddhav’s father Bal Thackeray gave the slogan ‘Garvase kaho hum Hindu hai’ (say with pride we are Hindu), but now the new slogans being shouted at Shivaji Park are ‘Garvase kaho hum Congressi hai, Garvase kaho hum Samajwadi hai’,” Shinde claimed.

    Shinde said he won’t be surprised if they (Shiv Sena-UBT) ally with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and even “hug terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba for their selfish motives and chair (power)”.

    The Shinde faction had applied for permission for a Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park this year, but later withdrew the application. Shinde later announced that the annual Dussehra rally will be organised at Azad Maidan instead of Shivaji Park.

    This cleared the path for the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena to hold the annual rally at Shivaji Park.

    Shiv Sena (Shinde group) and Shiv Sena (UBT), last year, locked horns over organising the annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, where the party has been holding the rally since 1966, indicating the significance of this venue for both of them.

    However, the Bombay High Court had ruled in favour of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park.

    This came after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) refused to give permission to the two factions to hold the rally, based on the local police report, which said that the event may cause law and order issues in the area.

    The event is significant as Sena is now divided into two factions and the rally was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    (With inputs from PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said those harassing his party will face consequences when it returns to power, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who heads a rival faction accused him of “burying” the Hindutva ideology.

    The two Shiv Senas held their separate Dussehra rallies in the city on Tuesday evening.

    Speaking at Shivaji Park, the traditional venue of the party’s Dussehra rally, Thackeray also batted for coalition governments. Attempts were being made to “steal” the Shiv Sena, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “After we come to power, we will hang upside down those who are harassing us,” Uddhav said.

    Targeting the BJP, his friend-turned-foe, Thackeray said there should be a strong government, but not of “any one party with a brute majority.”

    Uddhav said the parties who used to target the BJP by questioning the timeline for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya are feeling embarrassed now. “They have lost their face. How will they go to Ayodhya now?” he asked.

    Speaking at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, Shinde slammed Thackeray for forming an alliance with Congress and the Samajwadi Party while “burying Hindutva thoughts” of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

    “At one time Uddhav’s father Bal Thackeray gave the slogan ‘Garvase kaho hum Hindu hai’ (say with pride we are Hindu), but now the new slogans being shouted at Shivaji Park are ‘Garvase kaho hum Congressi hai, Garvase kaho hum Samajwadi hai’,” Shinde claimed.

    Shinde said he won’t be surprised if they (Shiv Sena-UBT) ally with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and even “hug terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba for their selfish motives and chair (power)”.

    The Shinde faction had applied for permission for a Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park this year, but later withdrew the application. Shinde later announced that the annual Dussehra rally will be organised at Azad Maidan instead of Shivaji Park.

    This cleared the path for the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena to hold the annual rally at Shivaji Park.

    Shiv Sena (Shinde group) and Shiv Sena (UBT), last year, locked horns over organising the annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, where the party has been holding the rally since 1966, indicating the significance of this venue for both of them.

    However, the Bombay High Court had ruled in favour of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park.

    This came after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) refused to give permission to the two factions to hold the rally, based on the local police report, which said that the event may cause law and order issues in the area.

    The event is significant as Sena is now divided into two factions and the rally was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    (With inputs from PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Ahead of polls, Aditya Thackeray joins Kamal Nath and son in unveiling Shivaji statue in MP

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: With just two months left for assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray’s family has entered the poll-bound state in support of once its biggest foe, but now it’s Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner Congress.

    The Thackeray family’s third generation, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s ex-minister son Aditya Thackeray addressed a mega rally in Pandhurna assembly segment of poll-bound MP’s largest district Chhindwara on Friday.

    Chhindwara, importantly has been state Congress chief and former CM Kamal Nath’s bastion since 1980. While his son Nakul Nath is currently the Chhindwara MP, all eight assembly segments are represented by the Congress, including the Chhindwara assembly segment having Kamal Nath as its MLA.

    The young Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction leader joined Kamal Nath and Nath’s first-time MP son Nakul Nath in unveiling the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Chhindwara’s Pandhurna area, which neighbours Maharashtra’s Nagpur district.

    Addressing the gathering replete with saffron flags, Aditya Thackeray raised the issues of inflation and farmers to plight due to deficient and excessive rainfall which is troubling farmers of both the neighbouring states, ruled by BJP and allies. While terming Maharashtra CM and his old party colleague Eknath Shinde as “illegal CM,” the Thackeray Jr drew parallels between how the Congress and MVA governments in MP and Maharashtra respectively were pulled down by the BJP. “Real Shivshahi will be ushered in MP only, after the unjust rule of BJP is ended in the state. We’re eagerly awaiting Kamal Nath Saheb to return as MP CM. Please tell me the date when you (Nath) will take oath as CM again.”

    Recounting the endeared bond between his party and Nath, Thackeray said, “be it during the MVA regime, when I was a minister in Maharashtra or now, Kamal Nath Saheb has always stood connected with us, enquiring whether everything is going smoothly with the Congress or not.”

    Recounting his meeting with the Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray during the days of Emergency, Nath said, “Aditya wasn’t even born at that time. I still remember Sanjay Gandhi sending me to Balasaheb to convince him to support the imposition of emergency for the nation’s good. My meeting with Balasaheb continued for around two and half hours and in between that meeting, Balasaheb assured me that Shiv Sena firmly supported the Emergency.”

    Importantly, the Pandhurna-ST assembly constituency of Chhindwara district has maximum Marathi-speaking voters and lies next to the Nagpur district of Maharashtra. The Congress won the seat in 2013 and 2018, but the BJP is trying its best to wrest the seat it won in 2003 and 2008.

    The chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had last month initiated the process of fulfilling the long pending demand of making Pandhurna a separate district. Aiming to counter the BJP’s poll strategy of benefitting by creating a separate Pandhurna district, Kamal Nath got the long-awaited statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji unveiled in Pandhurna on Friday. Roping in Aditya Thackeray for the event was aimed at ensuring that the Marathi-speaking voters stay behind the Congress only.

    As per sources within the MP Congress, Friday’s Pandhurna event could just be the start of many such rallies which will be addressed by Aditya Thackeray in other districts of MP, which house Marathi speaking population, including Khargone, Barwani, Betul, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Chhindwara, Balaghat and Seoni.

    Making light of the event in Pandhurna, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that during his 15-month stint in power, Kamal Nath had stopped the installation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Sausar area of the same Chhindwara district. “I had at that time come to Chhindwara and protested with commoners over the issue. The same fake and seasonal Hindus, who had then insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji are now installing Shivaji Maharaj’s statue.”

    BHOPAL: With just two months left for assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray’s family has entered the poll-bound state in support of once its biggest foe, but now it’s Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner Congress.

    The Thackeray family’s third generation, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s ex-minister son Aditya Thackeray addressed a mega rally in Pandhurna assembly segment of poll-bound MP’s largest district Chhindwara on Friday.

    Chhindwara, importantly has been state Congress chief and former CM Kamal Nath’s bastion since 1980. While his son Nakul Nath is currently the Chhindwara MP, all eight assembly segments are represented by the Congress, including the Chhindwara assembly segment having Kamal Nath as its MLA.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The young Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction leader joined Kamal Nath and Nath’s first-time MP son Nakul Nath in unveiling the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Chhindwara’s Pandhurna area, which neighbours Maharashtra’s Nagpur district.

    Addressing the gathering replete with saffron flags, Aditya Thackeray raised the issues of inflation and farmers to plight due to deficient and excessive rainfall which is troubling farmers of both the neighbouring states, ruled by BJP and allies. While terming Maharashtra CM and his old party colleague Eknath Shinde as “illegal CM,” the Thackeray Jr drew parallels between how the Congress and MVA governments in MP and Maharashtra respectively were pulled down by the BJP. “Real Shivshahi will be ushered in MP only, after the unjust rule of BJP is ended in the state. We’re eagerly awaiting Kamal Nath Saheb to return as MP CM. Please tell me the date when you (Nath) will take oath as CM again.”

    Recounting the endeared bond between his party and Nath, Thackeray said, “be it during the MVA regime, when I was a minister in Maharashtra or now, Kamal Nath Saheb has always stood connected with us, enquiring whether everything is going smoothly with the Congress or not.”

    Recounting his meeting with the Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray during the days of Emergency, Nath said, “Aditya wasn’t even born at that time. I still remember Sanjay Gandhi sending me to Balasaheb to convince him to support the imposition of emergency for the nation’s good. My meeting with Balasaheb continued for around two and half hours and in between that meeting, Balasaheb assured me that Shiv Sena firmly supported the Emergency.”

    Importantly, the Pandhurna-ST assembly constituency of Chhindwara district has maximum Marathi-speaking voters and lies next to the Nagpur district of Maharashtra. The Congress won the seat in 2013 and 2018, but the BJP is trying its best to wrest the seat it won in 2003 and 2008.

    The chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had last month initiated the process of fulfilling the long pending demand of making Pandhurna a separate district. Aiming to counter the BJP’s poll strategy of benefitting by creating a separate Pandhurna district, Kamal Nath got the long-awaited statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji unveiled in Pandhurna on Friday. Roping in Aditya Thackeray for the event was aimed at ensuring that the Marathi-speaking voters stay behind the Congress only.

    As per sources within the MP Congress, Friday’s Pandhurna event could just be the start of many such rallies which will be addressed by Aditya Thackeray in other districts of MP, which house Marathi speaking population, including Khargone, Barwani, Betul, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Chhindwara, Balaghat and Seoni.

    Making light of the event in Pandhurna, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that during his 15-month stint in power, Kamal Nath had stopped the installation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Sausar area of the same Chhindwara district. “I had at that time come to Chhindwara and protested with commoners over the issue. The same fake and seasonal Hindus, who had then insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji are now installing Shivaji Maharaj’s statue.”

  • Opposition unity: Nitish to have lunch with Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar ahead of LS polls

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Janata Dal (U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday morning as part of his Opposition unity efforts. 

    Nitish Kumar will meet and hold meetings with top Maharashtra leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over lunch at ‘Matoshri’ in Bandra, before meeting Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over tea at the latter’s ‘Silver Oaks’ home in south Mumbai.

    Nitish Kumar has taken the lead to unite all smaller and secular alliance parties against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As a part of it, he has been cementing ties and ironing out the differences with the Opposition.

    Kapil Patil, MLC and general secretary of JD (U) said that their leader Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been receiving overwhelming support from the Opposition parties against the BJP.

    He said in 1977, all non-Congress parties came together against the Congress to protest and anger against the emergency and to save democracy, In the same way, the Opposition needs to unite today against the BJP if they want to save the constitution.

    “The constitutional federal structure has been disturbed. The central government is ushering all power while weakening the respective state government and non-BJP-ruled states are deprived of the central government-allotted funds. Besides, the central agencies and institutions are to target the Opposition and remain in power. So, all smaller and bigger parties of the Opposition have to come together against the BJP in 2024. Otherwise, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be the last elections in India,” Patil said.

    He added Nitish Kumar has got huge and rich political and administrative experience and there are no stains in his political career. 

    Patil added that the Bihar CM is the man that can unite everyone and Congress will also be the main stakeholder. 

    NCP chief Sharad Pawar earlier extended support to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar saying if someone is taking an effort, then as an Opposition, they have to extend all possible support. “We as NCP are with Nitish Kumar,” Pawar added.

    Interestingly, Bihar CM Eknath Shinde earlier met Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav.

    MUMBAI: Janata Dal (U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday morning as part of his Opposition unity efforts. 

    Nitish Kumar will meet and hold meetings with top Maharashtra leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over lunch at ‘Matoshri’ in Bandra, before meeting Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over tea at the latter’s ‘Silver Oaks’ home in south Mumbai.

    Nitish Kumar has taken the lead to unite all smaller and secular alliance parties against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As a part of it, he has been cementing ties and ironing out the differences with the Opposition.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Kapil Patil, MLC and general secretary of JD (U) said that their leader Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been receiving overwhelming support from the Opposition parties against the BJP.

    He said in 1977, all non-Congress parties came together against the Congress to protest and anger against the emergency and to save democracy, In the same way, the Opposition needs to unite today against the BJP if they want to save the constitution.

    “The constitutional federal structure has been disturbed. The central government is ushering all power while weakening the respective state government and non-BJP-ruled states are deprived of the central government-allotted funds. Besides, the central agencies and institutions are to target the Opposition and remain in power. So, all smaller and bigger parties of the Opposition have to come together against the BJP in 2024. Otherwise, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be the last elections in India,” Patil said.

    He added Nitish Kumar has got huge and rich political and administrative experience and there are no stains in his political career. 

    Patil added that the Bihar CM is the man that can unite everyone and Congress will also be the main stakeholder. 

    NCP chief Sharad Pawar earlier extended support to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar saying if someone is taking an effort, then as an Opposition, they have to extend all possible support. “We as NCP are with Nitish Kumar,” Pawar added.

    Interestingly, Bihar CM Eknath Shinde earlier met Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav.