Uddhav mocks PM Modi, Amit Shah for taking Bal Thackeray’s name for votes

With less than a month left for Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders intensified their critique of the BJP, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over their campaign in the state.
Addressing a gathering at Maharashtra’s Jalna, UBT Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray pointed to the visual presence of Balasaheb Thackeray, his father and Shiv Sena founder, on campaign posters. “Today, wherever you go in Maharashtra, almost all the political parties have a photo of Balasaheb Thackeray on their posters,” he said, adding, “There probably won’t be a photo of PM Narendra Modi or Amit Shah on the BJP poster because their photo is a guarantee of defeat. The guarantee of defeat is Modi and Shah’s guarantee.”

Aaditya Thackeray, the UBT Sena candidate from the Worli seat, expanded on this criticism, citing the BJP’s alleged divisive strategy. “This is the BJP’s policy: they divide and loot. In Maharashtra, we have decided not to let disputes arise over caste or religion. We won’t allow the BJP’s entrapping schemes to come to Maharashtra or to turn Maharashtra into a ‘BJP-ised’ state,” he said.
Aaditya further emphasised the need for accountability on issues of development and employment, accusing the BJP of prioritising Gujarat over Maharashtra.
“I think it would be better for the Prime Minister to answer why the BJP looted Maharashtra instead of entangling us in the pages of history. Why did the BJP not provide employment for the young people here and take it to Gujarat? They should answer this,” he said.
According to Aaditya, “Maybe they are busy with the pages of history, but Maharashtra is looking at the future. The BJP thinks about Maharashtra badly. Maharashtra will reject BJP; it will only accept MVA.”
On Friday, BJP leader Narayan Rane slammed Uddhav Thackeray and stated that he became the Chief Minister by sacrificing Hindutva. Rane claimed that Uddhav Sena would not be able to secure more than 25 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections.
“He became the CM by sacrificing Hindutva… His party (Sena UBT) will not win more than 25 seats,” Rane was quoted as saying by news agency PTI in its report.
Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20. Counting of votes will take place three days later.