Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday responded to Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray's statements on dynastic politics. On Saturday, Thackeray asked people to put an end to dynastic politics during his visit to the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde. Thackeray had also said giving Shinde's son a ticket was a mistake.
Speaking on his son Shrikant Shinde's candidature, the Maharashtra CM said that it was the requirement of the party in that period. The party was seeking a well-educated and young face to be fielded in the Lok Sabha election.
Responding to Thackeray's statements, Shinde said," It was the requirement of the party in that period. The party was seeking a well-educated and young face to be fielded in the Lok Sabha election. It gave a ticket to Shrikant, and we won. Our party's tally increased." Shinde said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking the country ahead rapidly, Thackeray's chief ministership, between late 2019 and June 2022, had taken Maharashtra back by more than 10 years," as quoted by news agency PTI.
"That's why we toppled his government. It is unfortunate that several infrastructure projects were stopped only to satisfy one's ego," he claimed.
The Maharashtra CM slammed the former Maharashtra CM's claims and said that Thackeray's allegations don't carry any value as the latter gets critical of institutions when a decision goes against him. Notably, Thackeray himself belongs to a political family, as his father, Bal Thackeray, was the founder of the Shiv Sena. Uddhav Thackeray's son, Aaditya, was a minister in the previous state government.
Speaking at a rally on Saturday, Thackeray also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated visits to Maharashtra underline the state's importance in the coming Lok Sabha elections. "Bury dynastic politics and traitors," the former chief minister said, as quoted by PTI.
Referring to the Prime Minister's speech at the inauguration of the trans-harbour Atal Setu on Friday, Thackeray noted that the PM Modi made critical comments about dynastic politics.