Is Mumbai's Development Under Attack from Uddhav Thackeray's Policies?

Mumbai, July 17 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde launched a fierce critique against Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena UBT, on Thursday. Without directly naming him, Shinde asserted that Thackeray’s administration operated under a "Contractor First" approach, contrasting it with the MahaYuti government's "Mumbai First" initiative.

Shinde also took aim at Thackeray regarding the cleaning operations of the Mithi River, pointing out that the contract was not awarded to Dino Morea but to another local contractor. He cautioned that if the Bollywood actor Dino Morea were to speak out, it could lead to significant embarrassment for Thackeray's camp. This critique surfaced as a special investigation team delves into the alleged corruption associated with the Mithi river cleaning project.

Further complicating matters, the Enforcement Directorate has recently interrogated both Dino Morea and his brother concerning this issue. Shinde's remarks were part of a discussion under Rule 293 in the state assembly.

Additionally, Shinde condemned Thackeray over alleged fraudulent activities related to the distribution of khichdi during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mumbai. "Who are you accusing of corruption?" he inquired, while denying any accusations of corruption or favoritism in the awarding of contracts for road concretization in Mumbai.

He emphasized that once concrete roads are laid, they remain intact for up to 25 years. "Who was responsible for the yearly repairs, transforming black into white, and embezzling funds through unnecessary repair work?" he questioned, directly targeting Thackeray and recalling that the pro-contractor policy was prevalent during Shiv Sena's 25-year governance.

Shinde asserted, "While we engaged in comprehensive road cleaning, your affiliates merely enriched themselves." He continued, "After assuming the role of Chief Minister, I promptly contacted Iqbal Chahal, the former BMC Commissioner, regarding the pothole issues and instructed him to construct all roads in two phases. The initial phase is completed, and with ongoing concretization efforts, Mumbai will soon be free of potholes. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region holds the potential for a $1.5 trillion economy, aligning with our goal of making Maharashtra a $1 trillion economy. We are being accused of damaging Mumbai, but in fact, we are the ones connecting it," he stated.

Shinde further alleged that the Thackeray camp has been responsible for pushing Marathi individuals away from Mumbai. "The MahaYuti government has initiated numerous programs aimed at encouraging the return of Marathi residents to Mumbai," he asserted.

He concluded that the electorate has placed their trust in MahaYuti, reminding Thackeray and the opposition that voters dismissed their false narratives during the recent assembly elections.