'People Will Beat Us With Footwear..': Uddhav Thackeray Hits At Congress' Remarks On Going Solo

After the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had a fall out with the BJP in 2019, it went on form an alliance with Congress, an adversary for decades, along with Sharad Pawar's NCP to form the government in Maharashtra.

Representative Photo: PTI

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has said that people would "beat (them) with footwear" who only talk about contesting elections alone without really resolving people's woes.

The comment was made in reference to state Congress chief Nana Patole saying that the party would contest future elections on its own.

Speaking on the occasion of the Shiv Sena's 55th foundation day, the Maharashtra CM said that all political parties should keep ambitions aside and focus on the economy and health.

Without naming Congress, Uddhav Thackeray Thackeray said, "If we do not offer solutions to people's problems but only talked about going it alone in politics, people will beat us with footwear. They will not listen to our party-centric, ambitious talk of contesting elections alone."

Besides Patole, Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap recently said that he was ready to contest the Mumbai civic polls next year without joining hands with the Sena.

After the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had a fall out with the BJP in 2019, it went on form an alliance with Congress, an adversary for decades, along with Sharad Pawar's NCP to form the government in Maharashtra.

"If a party wishes to say that it wants to contest elections without joining hands with others, it should offer confidence and courage to people. Otherwise, people will ask what plans the party has to provide them livelihood, jobs," Thackeray commented.

"Sena is not desperate for power....we will not unnecessarily carry others' burden. We will always take a firm stand to protect the interests of the common man. Even we can give a call for contesting elections without alliance," he added.

"If we indulge in cynical politics without giving a thought to the ways to find solutions to economic and health challenges before us, then we are in serious trouble," he emphasised after saying that it's time for all the political parties to decide whether they want political success for the sake of it or for finding solutions on the economic front.

Adding to this, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said on Sunday: "CM and our party chief told the people who are speaking of contesting elections alone in Maharashtra, that if they do that what will we do? Will we keep sitting? Those who want to contest, let them do it".

He added that Shiv Sena has fought its political battles on its own. "There may be alliances in polls but battles are fought on one's own. Be it an issue related to the prestige of Maharashtra or the existence of Shiv Sena, if we have to fight (for it) we will fight," he stated.

Nana Patole Responds: 'People Will Decide Who To Give Slippers'

Speaking to ABP News, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that it is up to people to decide who will receive slippers. He also responded to the Chief Minister's emphasis on working for people by saying that Congress has done a lot for the public amid the Covid pandemic, "a lot of welfare work has been done which they can vouch for".

He added that Uddhav Thakeray's remarks should be seen as coming from Shiv Sena supremo and not as the state chief minister considering that he made the statement during the party's 55th foundation day.

(With inputs from agencies)