MUMBAI:
Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP
resigned on Tuesday after three days as chief minister, and by evening
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
had expressed gratitude before a meeting of Mahavikas Aghadi legislators for having been given the chance to be the next head of government in the state.
“I am grateful to the leaders of the NCP, Congress, Samajwadi Party, PWP and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana for joining hands with the Shiv Sena,” he said. “We were associated with the BJP, but it has betrayed us. Now, political parties which were against us for more than three decades have shown confidence in us. We are thankful to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, too, for extending support to the Shiv-Sena-led government. They have unanimously expressed confidence in my leadership.”
Addressing the meeting of legislators, both
NCP chief Sharad Pawar
and Thackeray promised that they would provide a clean, transparent and result-oriented administration. They said their administration would satisfy all sections of society.
Thackeray also launched a frontal attack against Fadnavis and accused him of misleading the public about the promise of chief ministership made by him and BJP president Amit Shah.
“In my opinion, he is telling lies,” Thackeray said. “The BJP had given certain commitment to the
Shiv Sena before the Lok Sabha polls and now after the assembly election he declared that no such assurance was given. Further, he alleged that the Shiv Sena has surrendered to Sonia Gandhi and these days
Uddhav Thackeray is moving out for an alliance with the Congress and NCP. It’s all falsehood. I heard Fadnavis’s comments during the media briefing, I will reply to them at an appropriate time.”
At the first meeting of the Mahavikas Aghadi, NCP state unit president Jayant Patil proposed the name of Thackeray as the chief minister. It was seconded by Congress state unit president Balasaheb Thorat. Immediately after the meeting, Patil, Shiv Sena politician Eknath Shinde and Thorat staked claim with the governor to form the next government.
“We submitted to Raj Bhavan that Uddhav Thackeray has been elected as the leader of the aghadi and that he should be invited to for m the gover nment,” Thorat said.
Thackeray said that as head of the Shiv Sena he very rarely visited the council hall but now he would need the blessings and cooperation of all sections to lead a three-party government.
“We will not take revenge, but if someone is coming in our way, we will take him on. Our commitment is for providing a clean, result-oriented administration and a cultured Maharashtra,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray also recalled father Bal Thackeray’s comment when Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule was contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time from Baramati. At the time, the Shiv Sena had declared that it would not put up a candidate against her. “I will also have blessings of
Sharad Pawar and all senior politicians,” he said.
Sharad Pawar recalled his long association with Bal Thackeray. “We had differences on several occasions but it never had an adverse impact on personal relations. I always admired the qualities of Bal Thackeray. He was a different kind of leader. Had he been alive, he would have been the happiest person to see his son sworn in as the CM of Maharahstra,” he said.
Paying glowing tributes to Bal Thackeray, Pawar said he was one politician who gave an opportunity to the poorest of the poor. “I still remember how he nominated Aurangabad leader Chandrakant Khaire to contest the Lok Sabha election. A man with no political background, Khaire was elected to the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms. I am sure, like his father, Uddhav will also be just to people from all walks of life,” Pawar said.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.