New Delhi : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in 2019 as the 'biggest vote theft' in the state's political history. During Shiv Sena's Diamond Jubilee Dussehra rally, he accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of betraying the mandate.
'Those who betray the mandate are vote thieves'
Amid the large presence of party leaders, MPs, MLAs and Shiv Sainiks at the rally organized in Goregaon on Tuesday, Shinde said that in the 2019 assembly elections, the Shiv Sena and BJP alliance had got a clear majority, but later Shiv Sena formed the government with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.
“When the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance got a clear majority, you formed the government with the Maha Vikas Aghadi. This was the biggest vote theft. Those who backstabbed Maharashtra to become chief ministers are the real vote thieves,” Shinde alleged.
Rahul Gandhi and opposition also targeted
Shinde accused the opposition alliance INDIA of targeting constitutional institutions and trying to divide the country. He also targeted the opposition for criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that Rahul Gandhi's march to the Supreme Court is an insult to the highest judicial system of the country. Shinde alleged that the opposition, citing the Constitution, is raising questions on the same constitutional institutions in whose establishment Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar played an important role.
How did the political equations of Maharashtra change in 2019?
In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP and Shiv Sena contested the elections under alliance and both the parties together won the majority. However, following differences over the Chief Minister's post, Shiv Sena decided to walk away from the decades-old alliance with BJP.
After this, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress together formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Uddhav Thackeray took oath as Chief Minister on 28 November 2019.
After the rebellion of Eknath Shinde in June 2022, Shiv Sena split into two rival factions. This development brought a big change in the politics of Maharashtra.
Promise of support to farmers and laborers
Shinde also expressed his views on the issues of farmers and labourers. He said that his party does politics not only to give speeches but to stand with the needy people. He expressed confidence in providing all possible help to the farmers and laborers.
Shiv Sena ministers, MPs, MLAs, officials, spokespersons and a large number of Shiv Sainiks were present in the rally.
Uddhav Thackeray also accused the government
Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had also targeted the state government and appealed for change of power. He raised questions on BJP regarding allegations of deletion of names from voter list, alleged failure to give compensation to farmers, unemployment and law and order.
Raising the issue of drought and economic problems of farmers, Thackeray said that the government makes promises of providing relief, but the status of assistance reaching the affected people is not clear. He also raised questions about the number of beneficiaries of the announced Rs 5,000 assistance and loan waiver.