Mumbai, Jan 12 (NationPress) — Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde proclaimed on Monday that no force can disjoin Mumbai from Maharashtra, directly challenging the assertions made by SS-UBT head Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray.

He stated emphatically that “no power on earth can take Mumbai away from Maharashtra,” labeling the opposition's narrative as a “fear-mongering tactic” aimed at concealing their absence of a developmental agenda.

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde addressed a gathering at the joint Mahayuti rally for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15.

He urged supporters and voters to rally behind the Mahayuti coalition to hoist the saffron flag atop the BMC and elect a BJP mayor.

Shinde characterized the approaching BMC election as the “final over” to eradicate corruption within the civic body, encouraging voters to prioritize “development over division.”

He denounced the recent alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray at Shivaji Park as a “union of convenience” born from their fear of losing the BMC.

“This is not a ‘Milap’ (union) of hearts; it is a ‘Vilap’ (lament) of those worried about losing their last stronghold. Two individuals who have opposed each other for two decades are now united because the ground is shifting beneath them,” he remarked.

Shinde claimed that his faction represents the true Shiv Sena envisioned by Balasaheb Thackeray, accusing the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction of compromising on Hindutva by joining forces with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

He pointed to completed projects like the Atal Setu, Coastal Road, and the Dharavi Redevelopment Project as evidence of the Mahayuti’s “double engine” approach, contrasting it with the previous administration's “speed breakers.”

Shinde highlighted the Coastal Road, Atal Setu, and Metro expansion as proof of his government’s rapid progress.

He criticized the “Sthigiti Sarkar” (government of stagnation) era of the MVA, claiming it introduced “speed breakers” to Mumbai's advancement.

Shinde challenged Uddhav Thackeray's assertion of leaving Rs 3 lakh crore in deposits, alleging that the funds were “locked in corruption” rather than utilized for essential amenities for Mumbaikars.

“They label us ‘Gaddar’ (traitors), but the true betrayal happened in 2019 when Balasaheb's ideology was bartered to the Congress for a Chief Minister’s seat. We didn’t abandon the party; we salvaged the Bow and Arrow from those who surrendered it,” Shinde stated.

He emphasized that the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana has already aided millions, and the Mahayuti’s manifesto, unveiled on Sunday, pledges to enhance these direct benefit transfers.

He also promised a dedicated “Mumbai Seed Fund” to support Marathi entrepreneurs, aiming to keep the “Marathi Manoos” economically robust within the city.

Shinde underscored that their approach is centered on development.

“My model is evident in every road and bridge in this city. His (Uddhav Thackeray’s) model was ‘Work from Home’ while the city suffered. Mumbaikars desire a Sevak (servant), not a King,” he remarked.

He countered Raj Thackeray's emphasis on Marathi identity by asserting that his government has secured “classical status” for the Marathi language, ensuring that the “Marathi Manoos” is the primary beneficiary of numerous development initiatives.

Shinde called for an audit of the BMC’s 25-year governance under the Thackerays, alleging that the Rs 92,000 crore in fixed deposits was “public money held hostage by a syndicate.”