People won’t tolerate self-centred politics: Uddhav Thackeray’s dig at Congress

PTI, Jun 20, 2021, 9:34 AM IST

Mumbai: In a swipe at local Congress leaders, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday that people would “beat with footwear” those who only talk about contesting elections alone without offering solutions to people’s problems.

All political parties should keep ambitions aside and focus on economy and health, he said, speaking on the occasion of the Shiv Sena’s 55th foundation day.

Without naming the ally Congress, Mr Thackeray said, “If we do not offer solutions to people’s problems but only talked about going it alone in politics, people will beat us with footwear. They will not listen to our party-centric, ambitious talk of contesting elections alone.”

Recently Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap had said he was ready to contest the next year’s Mumbai civic polls without joining hands with the Sena.

The Sena and Congress, adversaries for decades, formed government in Maharashtra along with Sharad Pawar’s NCP after the Uddhav Thackeray-led party fell out with the BJP in 2019.

“If a party wishes to say that it wants to contest elections without joining hands with others, it should offer confidence and courage to people. Otherwise people will ask what plans the party has to provide them livelihood, jobs,” Mr Thackeray further said.

“Sena is not desperate for power….we will not unnecessarily carry others’ burden. We will always take a firm stand to protect the interests of common man. Even we can give a call for contesting elections without alliance,” he said.

Economy and health were the two key issues before the country, the Maharashtra chief minister said.

“The time has come for all the political parties to decide whether they want political success for the sake of it or for finding solutions on the economic front. Social unrest would be a harsh word to describe it, but the country is heading for social unease for sure,” he said.

“If we indulge in cynical politics without giving a thought to the ways to find solutions to economic and health challenges before us, then we are in serious trouble,” he added.

The Shiv Sena was founded by Uddhav Thackeray’s father Bal Thackeray in 1966.