Maharashtra News: 'Either you survive or I do,' says Uddhav Thackeray, warns BJP leader and Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis | Mint

Former Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has attacked the state's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying, “Either you survive or I will.”

Thackeray's comments, while effectively kick-starting the campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra elections, have led to protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“We have endured everything but stood firm and taught the BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections,” Thackeray was quoted as saying by news agency IANS. He was speaking at a preparatory meeting of party workers and leaders from Mumbai on July 31.

He recalled how former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had told him that Fadnavis was hatching a “conspiracy” to get both Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray jailed.

“If you behave rightly, we will be right, but if you behave dishonestly, we will do the same. Now either you stay or I,” said Thackeray.

Referring to the recent general elections, Thackeray said his party was broken, its leaders were being targeted by central probe agencies, money power was being used against the party and the BJP even wanted to throw its leaders in jail. “But we survived all and emerged victorious,” he said to loud applause.

The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, won 17 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar), won 30 seats.

Thackeray also challenged the BJP, saying that the MVA had curbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrogance in the Lok Sabha elections. “Now we will complete the unfinished business in the state assembly elections,” he said

The Maharashtra state assembly elections are scheduled for October-November.

Thackeray also reminded the gathering that the MVA had collectively won four of the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai. He added that the performance of the opposition had made top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, uneasy.

“Listening to Prime Minister Modi's speeches has now become painful…,” he said.

BJP protests

BJP leaders, including state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, slammed Thackeray, accusing him of “sowing division among the people”. They said, “You will have to take 100 births before you can end Mr Fadnavis' politics.”

“Thackeray has forgotten how he got his MPs elected in the name of Prime Minister Modi, but when he was the Prime Minister, he stabbed the BJP in the back and even hatched a conspiracy to jail Fadnavis,” Bawankule said.

“But with the blessing of the people he could not succeed,” he said.

The state BJP leader alleged that Pakistani flags were seen during Thackeray's rallies in Nashik and Mumbai, but now he is talking about rounding up Fadnavis. Bawankule also accused Thackeray of provoking such elements and polarizing different castes and religions that were living together harmoniously till now.