Mumbai, Jan 3 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday accused Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena UBT, of pillaging the coffers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) throughout his 25-year governance. He emphasized that the MahaYuti alliance is dedicated to fostering the city's growth and ensuring the safety and security of Mumbaikars.

Shinde criticized Uddhav Thackeray for bringing up the topic of Mumbai's separation from Maharashtra only during election season, asserting that Mumbai has always been, is, and will continue to be an integral part of Maharashtra.

Referring to Uddhav as the “corruption Samrat”, Shinde remarked that his approach was based on the notion that “where there is a tender, there is a surrender.”

At the unveiling of the joint campaign for the Mahayuti, Shinde further accused Uddhav Thackeray of treating Mumbai as his personal domain for 25 years while disregarding essential infrastructure needs.

He asserted that the BMC under “Thackeray’s Sena” served as a “gold mine for contractors”, rather than a genuine service to the citizens of Mumbai.

Shinde mocked Uddhav’s style of leadership, contrasting it with his own “field-oriented” governance, while branding Uddhav’s administration as “Facebook Live” and “home-centered” during his time as Chief Minister.

He remarked that the Thackeray faction views Mumbai as a “hen that lays golden eggs”, indicating their perception of the city as a source of wealth instead of a duty.

Shinde described the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray as a “marriage of convenience” rather than a union of beliefs.

He suggested that the two, who spent two decades at odds, have only joined forces as they are “losing ground” to the Mahayuti's developmental goals.

While the Thackeray cousins campaign on the themes of “Marathi Manoos” and “Marathi Pride”, Shinde insisted that true pride lies in the substantial development of Mumbai. He criticized their alliance as an effort to “preserve their own existence” rather than serve the public interest.

Shinde contended that Uddhav Thackeray, who previously “betrayed” his father Balasaheb Thackeray’s Hindutva principles by aligning with the Congress-led MVA, is now turning to Raj Thackeray only out of desperation.

In response to Uddhav Thackeray’s label of Shinde as “Suryaji Pisal”, a historical figure known for betrayal, Shinde countered that the public is aware of who genuinely “betrayed” Balasaheb Thackeray’s Hindutva philosophy by siding with Congress.

Shinde alleged that under the Thackeray family's long reign over the BMC, the Marathi populace was effectively “pushed out” of Mumbai towards suburbs like Ambernath and Kalyan due to unaffordable housing.

He further asserted that the triple-engine government will act as a “lifeline for Mumbai”. Shinde encouraged Mahayuti supporters to unite for victory in the BMC elections, citing their rival as “crooked and vindictive.”

Shinde conveyed a clear message that the Mahayuti intends to seize the last remaining bastions of the Thackeray family in Mumbai.

He proclaimed that the era of emotional politics is finished, and now, only the politics of performance will prevail, asserting that the Marathi Manoos will become the next Mayor of Mumbai.