Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray recently extended an invitation to senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Nitin Gadkari to leave the BJP and contest as a candidate for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). This offer was met with mockery from BJP leaders.
During a rally in Latur, Thackeray criticized the BJP for allegedly omitting Gadkari from its initial list of 195 candidates. He highlighted the inclusion of former Maharashtra Minister Kripashankar Singh, who faces graft charges, for the Jaunpur seat, as an example of the BJP’s questionable decisions. Thackeray urged Gadkari to resign from the BJP instead of submitting to pressures from New Delhi, assuring him that he would win as a candidate for the MVA in the upcoming General Election.
Deputy Chief Minister and Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Thackeray’s remarks, likening his offer to that of “a man in the street offering someone the post of the US President.” Fadnavis emphasized Gadkari’s stature, stating, “Nitin Gadkari is a tall leader of our party. He contests from Nagpur. The discussions regarding seat-sharing among our Mahayuti partners [BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP] were not finalized when the first list was released… Gadkari ji’s name will certainly appear at the top when the list for Maharashtra is announced.”
Fadnavis further remarked that Thackeray’s party is in disarray and that the leader of such a party should refrain from making offers to a national-level figure like Gadkari. He advised Thackeray not to become a subject of ridicule.
Thackeray is currently conducting a series of rallies in Latur and Dharashiv districts in the Marathwada region. In response to criticism from Union Minister Amit Shah, Thackeray pointed out that while Shah has frequently visited Maharashtra, he has avoided traveling to regions facing significant unrest. “Why didn’t he visit Manipur when it was burning? He hesitated to visit Arunachal Pradesh, which is facing aggression from China. He only comes to Maharashtra to intimidate his opponents,” Thackeray stated during a rally in Ausa, Maharashtra.
The situation continues to evolve, with the political landscape ahead of the General Election becoming increasingly contentious.
