Days after former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Santosh Kharat of Worli joined the Eknath Shinde-led Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, Sena (UBT) leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray claimed he was willing to quit as Worli MLA and challenged the chief minister to contest the polls against him.
"I've challenged this 'unconstitutional' CM Eknath Shinde to run against me in the assembly elections. I will resign from my seat, and he should resign from his position as well, and let him run against me from Worli:" Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray.
"I'm giving them a challenge in front of you. This is what I'm telling everywhere I go. The atmosphere is saffron, the saffron of Shiv Sena (UBT). I'm telling them again today, that the 13 traitor MPs and the 40 traitor MLAs must resign and show how they will win again. I'm giving a challenge to the unconstitutional chief minister too that I will resign from Worli and you fight against me in Worli. I will see how you can win. Use all the machinery, khoke (moneybags) but nota single Shiv Sainik will be bought," Thackeray made the remarks while speaking at a party meeting in Anushakti Nagar on Friday, the Times Of India (TOI) quoting him as saying.
"It feels like there is a dictatorship in Mumbai. It's been a year, but they are not holding BMC polls. They have appointed an administrator and the CM is giving orders. We are ready and we will win the BMC polls," he was quoted by TOI.
"Money is going into the pockets of builders, contractors, and traitors. They have selected only five contractors [for road projects]... After I raised this, we could save Rs 450 crore of taxpayers' money," Thackeray added, as per the report.
Kharat's decision to join the Shinde faction is crucial ahead of the BMC elections. Kharat stated that he had joined CM Shinde to help promote his neighbourhood, TOI reported citing some inside sources.
(With Inputs From Agencies)