Rahul Gandhi exposed their vote chori, tore their 'burqa': Uddhav Thackeray on Mahayuti alliance

Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that BJP-led Mahayuti alliance cannot win in the Maharashtra elections if the polls are conducted with utmost honesty.

"They (Mahayuti alliance) cannot win if elections are held honestly, certainly not in Maharashtra. Rahul Gandhi has exposed how they stole votes. He has torn their `burqa' (veil)," Thackeray was heard saying.

He also criticised the PM Modi-led central government for allowing the Indian team to play in the Asia Cup with Pakistan.

"How do you (then) give permission to play a cricket match with Pakistan," Thackeray asked. India and Pakistan will face off in the Asia Cup which is scheduled to start in the UAE from September 9.

He also said that the teachers who had been asked to participate in the election work should also ensure that the votes are not stolen.

"There should be humanity. But where is your humanity when our civilians are killed in Pahalgam, when our soldiers are killed? Our defence minister said that Operation Sindoor is still on. The prime minister said blood and water cannot flow together," he said.

Thackeray further said that it is good that people hit the streets in their thousands for the protection of elephants, dogs and pigeons, in an apparent referrence to the SC verdict about stary dogs.

For the unitiated, the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP won the 2024 Maharashtra legislative assembly election in a landslide, securing 235 out of 288 seats.