Uddhav Thackeray Challenges PM Modi Ahead of Maharashtra Elections

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign for the BJP in Maharashtra's upcoming assembly elections. Thackeray criticized the ruling MVA government for looting Mumbai and vowed to scrap the MMRDA if MVA returns to power.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign in Maharashtra for the BJP during the forthcoming state assembly elections.

Thackeray highlighted that Modi faced challenges in Maharashtra during the recent Lok Sabha polls, where the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) campaigned vigorously. Thackeray, whose party is part of the MVA alongside Congress and the NCP (SP), said, ''Modi must come to Maharashtra for Vidhan Sabha polls,'' while addressing party workers.

The assembly elections are anticipated in October this year. Thackeray mentioned that in the Lok Sabha elections, Modi had to come to Kalyan to campaign for Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde, against a lesser-known party worker.

Despite challenges like losing the party name (Shiv Sena) and symbol (bow and arrow) to the rival camp led by CM Shinde, Thackeray expressed confidence in returning to power. The NDA secured only 17 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, with the BJP's count dropping from 23 in 2019 to nine this year. Thackeray also accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of looting Mumbai.

He alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was being financially weakened, with its funds redirected to other infrastructure agencies like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC). Thackeray asserted that the MVA government would dismantle the MMRDA if it regained power.

(With inputs from agencies.)