In an exclusive conversation with News18, Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday spoke on a range of issues related to the state and its capital Mumbai ahead of the fifth phase of the ongoing general elections. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Nashik will have polling in this round on May 20.
Uddhav alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was looting funds from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. “In 2012, BMC was in a deficit of Rs 640 crore, but we took immense efforts and, until two years ago, we brought the reserves of the BMC to Rs 90,000 crore plus. But when the PM came to Mumbai, he said that keeping money in FDs won’t help to pay attention to development, so from that moment, they started exhausting the BMC funds," he said.
The BJP says the issue of elections for local bodies of Maharashtra is in the Supreme Court. On this issue, Uddhav said, “If the BJP is willing to conduct the corporation elections, then I am ready to go with it to the SC and try to find a solution for this."
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also opened up on the issue of the bullet train project. “What is the benefit of this bullet train project to Maharashtra and Mumbai? How many people travel daily to Ahmedabad from Mumbai? For this project, the current government gave prime land in Mumbai. After looting the money of Mumbaikars, now they are selling prime land of Mumbai city to such projects."
Uddhav also took a dig at the state’s Mahayuti government for taking credit for the coastal road and trans harbour link projects. “We made the Mumbai coastal road without taking a loan for the project, but the central government has taken a loan from Japan for the bullet train project," he told News18.
He alleged that the BEST bus service, considered the second lifeline of Mumbai, is in trouble and needs money for survival. “BMC is running this service, but instead of giving money to it, it is being diverted to MMRDA for its various projects, including the construction of Metro lines. If I come back in power, I might shut down MMRDA or shift it outside Mumbai. For the development of Mumbai city, Mumbai corporation is strong enough," said the opposition leader.
Uddhav also raised questions about the frequent visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Maharashtra and back-to-back rallies in Mumbai in the last two days of the campaigning for the fifth phase. Uddhav said, “When Maharashtra was going through a bad time, Modiji didn’t turn up, but now, to seek votes, he is visiting frequently. But after June 4, he will be retired as PM."
The general elections this time in Maharashtra are unique as the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have both been split, with one faction from each tying up with the BJP. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are in an alliance with the Congress in the form of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. While BJP ally and chief minister Eknath Shinde has the Shiv Sena name and symbol, the same is the case with deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the NCP, which may play a crucial role in the polls.
Uddhav further termed the Maharashtra government a puppet in the hands of the Centre, which pulls its strings as per its requirements. “This government, which claims to be number one in the country for getting investments, should show us how many new businesses, industries, and investments it brought. Vedanta Foxconn was snatched away from Maharashtra and given to Gujarat. But from there, the company withdrew as there was no infrastructure there in Gujarat. Medical device park, bulk drug park, Airbus, all these projects were coming to Maharashtra. Many projects were in the pipeline and ready to come, but they were snatched and diverted to other states. The existing businesses were also sent to other states, including IFSC, Air India headquarters, etc," he said.
On the question of whether the Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on the back of the sympathy he has received because his party got split, Uddhav replied, “People have sympathy for me, but you being ‘Vishwaguru’, people don’t have any sympathy for you; instead, they are angry at you and term you as ‘Jumlebaaz Sarkar’. If you see this time, the common man is talking against this government without any fear. Yesterday in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai, Metro trains and bus services were suspended, many shops were asked to stay shut just because the PM was holding a roadshow. Many people had to face inconvenience. They were saying that we won’t vote for the BJP. I am promising the people that once we are back in power, we will stop this loot and get the lost glory of Maharashtra back."
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