Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday, January 11, announced that his party will contest the upcoming elections to various local bodies on its own.
Talking to reporters at Nagpur, the Rajya Sabha MP said the INDIA bloc and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliances were for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. He further said party chief Uddhav Thackeray gave the party indications that it should go alone.
“In an alliance, workers of individual parties don’t get opportunities, and it hampers organisational growth. We will contest polls to the Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and other municipal corporations, zilla parishads and panchayats on our own strength,” he stated.
Hitting out at Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for ‘indulging in a blame game over the MVA’s defeat in the Assembly poll’, Raut said those who did not believe in consensus and compromise had no right to be in an alliance. He went on to say that the INDIA bloc did not hold a single meeting after the Lok Sabha elections. “We were not able to appoint even a convenor for INDIA bloc. As the largest party of the alliance, it was the Congress’ responsibility to convene a meeting,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.
Reacting to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s remark that he had never mentioned farm loan waivers in his speeches, Raut said, “Even if he hasn’t spoken about it; farm loan waiver and Rs 2,100 for Laadki Bahin beneficiaries are mentioned in the BJP’s manifesto. These two promises have to be implemented. He is the Finance Minister in the BJP government, and will have to do it.”
The Uddhav-led Shiv Sena has also announced its support for AAP in the Delhi elections, rather than the Congress. NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad, said they couldn’t stop the Shiv Sena (UBT) if it’s keen to contest alone. However, he added that he didn’t think this was the right decision as it would impact the poll prospects of all three MVA parties.
On the other hand, Supriya Sule,working president of the NCP (SP), said the parties always contested local bodies polls solo as these were for the party workers. “If we contest these polls as per our convenience, what should the cadre do?” she asked.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said earlier, Uddhav Thackeray was a friend, and now Raj Thackeray is a friend. He also added that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, however, was not a “shatru”. Source: TNS