Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray Exchange Barbs Over Maharashtra's Development

Mumbai: The tug of war between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray has continued with the Maharashtra chief minister dubbing the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief as ‘anti-development.’ The former CM has hit back saying that detractors see him even in their dreams.

Shinde on Sunday said that Thackeray merely sat at home for two-and-a-half-years when the latter was CM of the state. “He (Thackeray) was just sitting at home and showing off for the two-and-a-half years when he was the CM. He is anti-development,” said Sinde after attending a deep cleaning drive in Mumbai.

“It is our Mahayuti government that is actually carrying out the development and cleaning up this city,” the CM added.

Shinde alleged that Thackeray had opposed the Metro car shed at Aarey in Mumbai, the construction of Metro lines in Mumbai and had even tried to slow down the construction of the Samruddhi highway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. “They (the MVA) have no moral right to point a finger at us,” he said.

However, Thackeray hit back saying his detractors see him in their dreams despite stealing the party’s name and symbol. “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, Love and affection are not for sale. These emotions cannot be purchased,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said.

Thackeray also asserted that the Shiv Sena rebels will not be taken back into the party. “All doors are permanently shut for the rebels. Some of our partymen (referring to the Shinde-faction rebels) have lost their way, but we will not take them inside our home again,” Thackeray said.

Ever since Shinde revolted against the Shiv Sena leadership and joined hands with the BJP which resulted in the collapse of Thackeray-led MVA government in June 2022, both the leaders have been engaged in bitter war of words targeting each other on several occasions. Shine’s faction was given the ‘Shiv Sena’ name and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol by the Election Commission of India.