“He Changed Colours Like a Chameleon”: Eknath Shinde Slams Uddhav Thackeray
Mumbai:
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday launched a scathing attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of betraying BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Speaking during a reply to the opposition’s motion in the legislative council, Shinde indirectly referenced Thackeray, alleging that despite Fadnavis making “40 to 50 calls” after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won a majority, there was no response from the Sena leadership.
“Maharashtra has never witnessed such a rapid change in stance. He allied with those he once criticized,” Shinde said, in a pointed dig at Thackeray for joining hands with the Congress and NCP after breaking ties with the BJP.
Recalling the 2017 Mumbai civic polls, Shinde added that it was only on his insistence that Fadnavis allowed the Shiv Sena to claim the mayor’s post, even though the BJP came close to their tally. “But in 2019, Thackeray betrayed Fadnavis by walking out of the alliance,” he said.
Shinde also claimed that during the 2022 political crisis — when he and rebel MLAs camped in Guwahati after rebelling against Thackeray — the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief attempted to reach out for a compromise while simultaneously asking BJP leaders in Delhi not to back the rebels.
This renewed criticism from Shinde came just a day after Uddhav Thackeray met with Maharashtra Chief Minister. Interestingly, Fadnavis also made a sly invitation to Thackeray in the Assembly earlier, suggesting he join the ruling alliance.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
