Sources said Shah set a target of winning 150 seats in the BMC polls and told party workers that the election would be fought in alliance with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction.
Shah said in his address, Uddhav Thackeray Shivsena founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology was Hindutva, betrayed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis and the voters who voted for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the 2019 assembly elections.
“In politics one can insult but not betray and the betrayer should be punished,” Shah quoted sources as saying.
The BJP, Shah has said, is ready to win the civic polls under the leadership of PM Modi. According to sources, “People are with the party led by Modi and not with the Uddhav Thackeray party which has betrayed the ideology.” Thackeray’s party has been in power in the BMC for more than two decades.
Shah addressed party office-bearers and elected representatives at Meghdoot, a government bungalow on Malabar Hill currently allotted to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Shah was in Mumbai to pay tribute to Lalbaugcha Raja in Parel.
Shah said Ashish Shelar, who was recently appointed as the BJP’s Mumbai unit president, had relinquished his cabinet ministerial post and was made in-charge of civic polls, as the party wanted to win the elections. Yes, Shah said.
Sources said that Shah took Uddhav’s name several times in his 20-minute speech. Shah reportedly said, “His (Thackeray’s) party has been divided because of greed for power. The BJP had nothing to do with it. In 2014, he broke the alliance for only two seats.”
Shah further said, “I have not done anything wrong. I want to reiterate once again that I never promised him (Uddhav) the chief minister’s post. We are not one of those who do politics behind closed doors, but such It is straightforward. They have made it (‘Khayali was cooking pulao’). When Devendra went to meet him in Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray said that Amit Shah had told him that the CM’s seat was Shiv Sena. No matter how many seats they win. Fadnavis called me from Matoshree at 1.30 am. I asked him to leave immediately and no such promise was made, and whatever is to be discussed will be done by the central leadership. Something Days later Uddhav Thackeray asked me to come and meet. I said I will come but there will be no discussion on the post of CM. Devendra will be the CM.”
Attacking Thackeray, he said that he has gone with those who have no ideology. “What is the ideology of the NCP?” He asked, reportedly saying that the NCP only wants to be in power.
Later in the evening, Shah held a meeting with the leaders of the BJP State Core Committee. Sources said Shah insisted on expanding the party with the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. Shah, who arrived in Mumbai on Sunday night, held an hour-long meeting with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at the Sahyadri Guest House on Monday.