Not love, but fear: Fadnavis says Thackeray cousins’ tie-up is driven by panic ahead of BMC polls

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday took a sharp swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, claiming their coming together ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections was driven by fear of the ruling Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP.

“This is not a preeti sangam, but a bheeti sangam (the cousins have come together not out of love but out of fear),” Fadnavis said while addressing a campaign rally in north Mumbai on Sunday night.

Mocking the alliance further, the chief minister added, “Somebody told me that a cartoonist (Raj) and a photographer (Uddhav) have united. I told the person that confusion and corruption have united.”

Fadnavis also targeted Uddhav Thackeray over development issues, saying he had once announced a cash reward for anyone who could find the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief speaking about development. “Now I have decided to increase that amount to Rs 2,000,” he said.

Referring to Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray unveiling their joint manifesto for the BMC polls earlier in the day, Fadnavis remarked that they could have chosen a more appropriate occasion. “They could have done it a day earlier, on the birth anniversary of Rajmata Jijabai, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he said.

He added, without naming either leader, “But in recent times, our old friends have started sitting with those allergic to Vande Mataram, so I am not aware what else they are allergic to.”

At the rally, the ruling alliance released its campaign song titled ‘Mahapalika radate aahe’ (the municipal corporation is crying), highlighting what it described as misrule during the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s tenure at the BMC. The song has been composed by singer and musician Avadhoot Gupte, who was present at the event. Gupte had earlier composed the “Shiv Sena Shiv Sena” song in 2009, when the party was still undivided.

In a political setback for the Shiv Sena (UBT) ahead of the civic polls, former Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul joined the BJP at the rally in the presence of Fadnavis, after resigning from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will be held on January 15, along with elections to 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra.

*With Agency Inputs