Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said today that the "chief ministerial face of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will be decided once the seat sharing is over". He said the present assembly election is "a fight between those who support Adaanikaran (Adanisation) and those who do not".
Asked why Maha Vikas Aghadi has still not decided about its chief ministerial face, Aaditya Thackeray replied: "I think, let us first iron out all the ‘gadbad’ (differences) over seats. On our part, we have decided that the person who will speak about the interests of Maharashtra will be the CM. But one thing, most of the surveys and trackers, people of the state still remember Uddhav ji's rule, particularly during the Covid pandemic, the way in which he tried to attract industries to the state, farmers, women, youths, poor and industrialists trusted him. They felt as if Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray was part of their family. That affection remains and it still shows. So the answer is obvious."
Aaditya Thackeray was replying to questions at India TV's daylong Chunav Manch conclave on Maharashtra elections. He said, "Seat sharing is a matter where ‘kheenchatani’ (tussle) does happen. Our party released the first list yesterday, we hope both Congress and NCP(S) also release their lists so that candidates can file nominations soon."
Asked whether there was any 'big brotherly' attitude between the allies, Thackeray replied: "I am too young. I am not at that level. There is no question about Bada Bhai, Chhota Bhai. Our only aim is to win the maximum number of seats so that we can form a government."
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged that "1.5 lakh families, roughly more than four lakh people, in Asia's largest slum area, Dharavi will be rendered homeless if the Dharavi project by Adani group is implemented."
The Dharavi project, with a revenue potential of Rs 20,000 crore, aims to rebuild the vast slum area in Mumbai near the BKC business district, and already tender has been awarded to Adani Properties in November, 2022, after competitive bidding involving realty giants like DLF and other developers. Under the project, those who lived in Dharavi before 2000, will get free homes, and nearly seven lakh people will be provided housing.
Asked what his party would do if it comes to power, Aaditya Thackeray replied: "We will ask Adani group whether they would stick to terms and conditions of the tender. We will remove the exemption of excess premium and BMC premium that has been given now. We will go ahead only with the interests of the people of Mumbai in mind…We oppose the exemptions given to the Adani group outside the purview of tender. We have no personal enmity with Adani Ji, nor is it a personal issue, but if anybody tries to loot Mumbai, we will not allow that."
Aaditya Thackeray described the "report card" of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's government as a "deport card". He alleged that many industries relocated from Maharashtra to other states like Gujarat in the last two years. Had our party been in power, the Vedanta-Foxconn unit would have come to Pune, but during the BJP-Shinde government, they were forced to relocate to Gujarat. Ultimately the Vedanta-Foxconn even moved away from Dholera in Gujarat. The loser was our country."
