Maharashtra civic polls: Eknath Shinde fears BJP; god willing, we’ll have our mayor, says Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday took a dig at DCM Eknath Shinde over moving his newly elected corporators to a 5-star hotel, saying Shinde is afraid of BJP. Uddhav said many of the corporators elected from the Shinde faction were Sena (UBT) defected corporators, and that BJP can get them to defect to bag the Mayor's post.

Uddhav struck a defiant tone, saying the BJP may be claiming that Shiv Sena was finished on paper but could not finish off Sena on the ground, and "can't buy loyalty despite employing all means." Speaking to his newly elected corporators at Matoshree, his residence, Uddhav said, "BJP wants to mortgage Mumbai, it won the polls by betrayal and Marathi manoos won't forgive this sin. It's our dream to get Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor elected; god willing, it will happen."




"People who have defected once can defect again. There is a possibility that everyone is in contact with everyone. Many of the corporators from the Shinde faction who were elected are our defected corporators. BJP can get them to defect for the post of Mayor," Uddhav said.

"Moreover, our defeat is bright, their victory is tarnished. The reason I am calling them anacondas is that the BJP's mentality is to use and throw away. They (BJP) are going to eliminate even those who were taken along," Uddhav said without naming Eknath Shinde. "The BJP is a party on paper but not on the ground, else they would not have had to misuse the system, they would not have had to break the leaders. I thought that Mumbaikars would give me a lot of blessings. Still, what they have given, they have given a lot," Uddhav said.

"The verdict on the party symbol and name is expected to be announced in the Supreme Court in Jan. If it is held according to the Constitution and their (Shinde Sena's) name and symbol are lost, they will cease to exist," said Uddhav.