'Congress, NCP-SP Should Declare CM Face': Uddhav Thackeray's Big Declaration Before Maharashtra Election

Maharashtra Election 2024: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray reiterates support for any CM candidate proposed by Congress or NCP, emphasising his priority to 'save' Maharashtra.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has reaffirmed his commitment to support any chief ministerial candidate announced by his allies Congress or NCP (Sharad Pawar) to safeguard Maharashtra’s interests. Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Thackeray stressed that his resolve to back a unified candidate was driven by his deep concern for the state. This is the second time since August that the former chief minister has made such a declaration.

“I had said this then and I say it now that the Congress should declare a face or NCP (SP) should do it. The Congress, NCP (SP) should speak in unison. I will support any face declared by them because my Maharashtra is dear to me. I want to see the interests of Maharashtra. My resolve is to do anything to save Maharashtra,” Thackeray asserted, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The remarks come on a day when the Congress suffered a setback in Haryana, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form a government for a third consecutive term. Thackeray's party is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, alongside the Congress and NCP (SP).

Addressing the civil society members, Thackeray took aim at the Mahayuti government, accusing it of creating "fake narratives" in the state through extensive advertisements ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Criticising the government’s 'Ladki Bahin Yojana', a scheme offering Rs 1,500 per month to underprivileged women, Thackeray claimed it was an attempt by the ruling coalition to make the people "betray Maharashtra dharma" by redistributing their own money. 

"It’s raining assurances, but there is a drought when it comes to implementation of schemes," he said, in a jibe at the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government as quoted by PTI.

Uddhav Thackeray Showed Large Heart By Extending Support To Anyone As MVA CM Face: Sanjay Raut

Thackeray, who previously led Maharashtra as chief minister, has been pressing for the Congress and NCP (SP) to announce a chief ministerial candidate before the assembly elections. In August, he had emphasised the importance of deciding the MVA’s chief ministerial face rather than simply relying on which party wins the most seats. At the time, Congress and NCP (SP) made it clear they would not address the issue of a CM face until after the election results.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had then praised Thackeray’s gesture, stating that he "showed a large heart by extending support to anyone the MVA deems fit for the CM's post."

During the event, Thackeray also launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of building a divide between Gujarat and the rest of the country. He added that historically, there has never been a Gujarati-Marathi dispute in Maharashtra, underscoring that his fight is against "forces who are anti-India and anti-Maharashtra."

With assembly elections for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly likely next month, all eyes are now on the state polls after the results in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.