'Villages From Maharashtra May Be Merged Into Karnataka Where Election Is Due': Uddhav Thackeray

The relocation of the projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat earlier this year had a significant influence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's stunning win in the neighbouring state, he claimed.

Uddhav Thackeray.

Source : PTI

Uddhav Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena (UBT), attacked the BJP on Thursday, claiming that just as big-ticket projects were relocated from Maharashtra to Gujarat ahead of Assembly elections, villages from the state may be amalgamated into Karnataka, where elections are coming next year, news agency PTI reported.

The relocation of the projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat earlier this year had a significant influence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's stunning win in the neighbouring state, he claimed.

Thackeray made the statements during a meeting of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders here at a news conference. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Congress make up the MVA.

"Just the way projects in Maharashtra were taken away to poll-bound Gujarat, villages from Maharashtra may also be given to Karnataka where elections are due," he was quoted by PTI in its report.

"Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai staking claim over the areas of Maharashtra has to be taken seriously. The BJP has a ploy to destabilise Maharashtra,'' Thackeray claimed.

The boundary conflict between Karnataka and Maharashtra has lately taken a fresh turn after Bommai laid a claim to many villages in Maharashtra.

Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Ajit Pawar and state Congress president Nana Patole, who were present at the news conference, said the MVA's December 17'morcha' in Mumbai would be large and would underline the BJP's "anti-Maharashtra" stance.

The opposition parties are rallying against the Eknath Shinde-BJP administration in the state over a number of problems, including statements made against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the state losing megaprojects.

"I appeal to all Maharashtra lovers to join the protest which will start from Jijamata Udyan and lead to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)," he said.

Thackeray claimed that when the Karnataka chief minister claimed areas of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra government did not respond.

According to Patole and Pawar, the BJP remained silent despite Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari insulting Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as well as social reformers Mahatma and Savitribai Phule.

"The BJP lost the civic polls in Delhi, where it ruled for 15 years, and the Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh where it was in government. The party now only has to rely on PM Narendra Modi for Gujarat," Patole said.

Pawar said J P Nadda who is president of the ''world's largest party'' could not save the BJP from defeat in his home state.

(With Inputs From PTI)