Maharashtra news: ‘Either you survive or I will survive’, Uddhav Thackeray warns BJP leader and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis | Mint

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has attacked the state Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying, “Either you will survive or I will.”

Thackeray’s remarks, made as he kicked off the campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, have triggered protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“We endured everything but stood firm and taught the BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections,” Thackeray said, according to news agency IANS. He said this at a pre-poll preparation meeting of party workers and leaders in Mumbai on July 31.

He recalled how former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had told him that Fadnavis was ‘plotting’ to put both Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray in jail.

Thackeray said, “If you do straight work, we will remain straight, but if you do crooked work, we will do the same. Now either you will stay or I will stay.”

Referring to the recent general elections, Thackeray said his party was split, its leaders were targeted by central investigative agencies, money power was used against the party and the BJP even wanted to put its leaders in jail. “But we bore all this and emerged victorious,” he said to thunderous applause.

The Mahayuti, consisting of the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, won 17 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar), won 30 seats.

Thackeray challenged the BJP, saying the MVA has destroyed the arrogance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections. He said, “Now we will complete the unfinished work in the assembly elections.”

Assembly elections in Maharashtra are due to be held in October-November.

Thackeray also reminded the gathering how the MVA had united and won 4 out of the 6 Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai. He said the opposition’s performance has made the top BJP leaders, including PM Modi, uncomfortable.

He said, “It has now become painful to listen to Prime Minister Modi’s speeches.”

BJP protest

BJP leaders, including state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, attacked Thackeray, accusing him of “sowing seeds of communal divide among people” and said, “You will have to take 100 births before you put an end to Mr Fadnavis’ politics.”

Bawankule said, “Thackeray has forgotten how he selected his MPs in the name of PM Modi, but when he was the chief minister, he backstabbed the BJP and even hatched a conspiracy to put Fadnavis in jail.”

He said, “But despite the blessings of the people, he could not succeed.”

The state BJP chief alleged that Pakistani flags were seen at Thackeray’s rallies in Nashik and Mumbai, but now he is talking about eliminating Fadnavis. Bawankule also accused Thackeray of instigating such elements and polarising the various castes and religions who have been living in harmony till now.