Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday urged his party workers to gear up for a strong fight against the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) in the upcoming civic elections. He reminded them of the setback they had delivered to Uddhav Thackeray's faction in the last assembly polls and stressed the need to replicate that success in the municipal elections.

Addressing party office-bearers, Shinde, who leads the ruling Shiv Sena faction, dismissed speculations of tensions within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. He assured that the coalition remains united and committed to the development of Mumbai and Maharashtra. He emphasized that party workers must ensure that government policies and welfare programs reach the people effectively.

He called for the presence of Shiv Sainiks and party branches in every civic ward, reinforcing his vision for expanding the party’s influence. “We gave a jolt to Shiv Sena (UBT) in the assembly elections, and we must do the same in the civic polls. The Shiv Sena must grow,” he said. Although the schedule for the civic elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, is yet to be announced, Shinde used the occasion to welcome several office-bearers from the rival camp into his party.

Referring to opposition claims about a conspiracy to detach Mumbai from Maharashtra, Shinde dismissed such concerns as mere election tactics. “No one can separate Mumbai from the state. Our government is accelerating pending development projects and cluster redevelopment,” he assured, adding that their focus is on governance rather than power.

Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde criticized his leadership, attributing the 2022 split in Shiv Sena to an obsession with the chief minister’s post. He accused Thackeray of treating his colleagues as subordinates, which he said led to the party’s decline. Reaffirming his commitment to development, Shinde declared, “We are in a battle against those who oppose progress.” He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for realizing the late Bal Thackeray’s vision by building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and revoking Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.