In an aggressive posturing that reflects increasing strains in partnership with the BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said he was determined to bring his party to power on its own in Maharashtra.
He also dubbed Sharad Pawar-led NCP as “a shameless party” for offering unsolicited support to BJP after the Assembly elections.
“It is my dream that there should be only Shiv Sena’s rule in Maharashtra in the future. Snatching this power for the Sena is not only my dream, but my resolve. Every Shiv Sainik (party volunteer) dreams of this and soon the whole Maharashtra will dream of this,” Thackeray said in an interview to Sena MP Sanjay Raut in party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’.
Directing his ire at the NCP for pledging support to the BJP to form government in the post-poll scenario, he said, “NCP is a shameless party. Inspite of so much being said about them, they offered support (to BJP) without being asked for. It wasn’t the case with Shiv Sena. We agreed to support only after the BJP formally asked us for it.”
Turning up the heat on BJP, Uddhav called for a probe into the allegations of corruption against BJP ministers, including the “chikki” scam that has cast a cloud over Woman Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde.
“It first needs to be ascertained how much truth is there in these allegations. Then, an independent inquiry needs to be conducted to bring out the facts before the people. If the allegations of corruption are found to be untrue, action should be taken against those responsible,” Thackeray said.
The opposition Congress and NCP have sought Munde’s resignation in the backdrop of alleged irregularities in awarding contracts totalling Rs 206 crore for supply of a host of items including ‘chikki’, a popular snack, by the Woman and Child Development Department skipping e-tender route.
“Terrible news on chikkis is doing the rounds. Is this incident a result of a quarrel between two contractors? Were there impurities in the chikkis? Did it (the Woman and Child Development Department) have the right to procure chikkis without calling for e-tenders? An inquiry needs to be done into all this,” he said.
