Mumbai, Oct 25: Coinciding with Dussehra festivities in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde traded charges against each other and accused each other of being traitors during two parallel high-voltage rallies-even as the set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls.
In June 2022, Shinde had launched a banner or revolt and toppled the Thackeray-headed Maha Vikas Aghadi government to become the Chief Minister with the help of BJP.
While Shinde is now the Chief Leader of Shiv Sena, Thackeray’s group calls themselves Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
“Let us not speak much about the traitors who have ditched us,” said Thackeray addressing a rally at the Shivaji Park. “They have stolen our party and our bow and arrow symbol,” he added.
“You can use whatever soap you want but gaddar will always be written on their forehead,” he said, adding that those who betrayed the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would be taught a lesson by the people of the state.
Thackeray also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the other hand, Shinde said that it was Thackeray he compromised and betrayed the ideals of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. “They seek votes in the name of Modi and they abuse the Prime Minister daily,” he said, adding: “They cannot digest as a common person, a farmer is now the Chief Minister.”
Shinde added that they predict the fall of the government but we are here to stay.
He also said that the present government is firm on its decision to provide a legally valid reservation to the Maratha community.
Shinde further said that Udhav Thackeray fiction has left the ideology of Shivaji mahraj and adopted the ideology of Afzal Khan .
