Eknath Shinde Critiques Uddhav Thackeray for Meeting with CM Fadnavis
Click to start listening
Nagpur, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, took a jab at Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena-UBT, regarding his recent meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shinde remarked that such interactions seem like 'meet this one, meet that one and go home the next day.'
By making this statement, he attempted to minimize the significance of the meeting between Thackeray and Fadnavis.
“Anyone can meet the Chief Minister. As the head of the state, it is common for opposition party members to meet him. I have noticed a significant transformation in those who once harshly criticized him, spoke of his downfall, and even suggested imprisonment. Meeting Devendra Fadnavis is not inappropriate,” Shinde commented.
On another note, Deepak Kesarkar, a Shiv Sena legislator and former minister, mentioned, “Had Uddhav Thackeray initiated such a meeting with Devendra Fadnavis earlier, the Shiv Sena would not have faced a split.”
“Previously, Uddhav Thackeray ignored Devendra Fadnavis’s calls. He set aside Balasaheb Thackeray's principle of Hindutva in pursuit of the Chief Minister position. Eknath Shinde simply demanded adherence to the Hindutva ideology and opposed any alliance with the Congress. If Uddhav Thackeray had engaged with Fadnavis back then, perhaps the current scenario would have been different. Fadnavis reached out to Thackeray multiple times in 2019. But it appears that it's too late now. The MahaYuti government is back in power,” Kesarkar elaborated.
In addition, Shinde criticized the opposition's ongoing campaign against EVMs, stating, “When the election outcomes do not favor them, they start blaming EVMs.”
“When results align with the Maha Vikas Aghadi, they have no issues with EVMs. For them, the Election Commission is acceptable, as are the Supreme Court and High Court. However, when results go against them, they shift blame to EVMs. This behavior has been consistent from the opposition in recent days. In 2004 and 2009, EVMs were used and the Congress emerged victorious; they praised that system then,” he stated.
“Even the Supreme Court noted that when you win, you do not approach us, but when you lose, you come seeking help. This double standard is evident. After winning the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition did not raise concerns about EVMs. Notably, Omar Abdullah has also criticized the Congress,” added Eknath Shinde.
He warned that the Congress should not undermine the public mandate, or else they could find themselves sidelined. Shinde also mocked Uddhav Thackeray for his proposal that the appointment of the Election Commissioner should occur through an election.
