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Dirt has left Sena, but MVA will survive: Aaditya Thackeray on Shinde-led rebellion
Maharashtra crisis: Thackeray said that Eknath Shinde was himself offered the post of chief minister on May 20 but he did "drama".
As the power tussle between the Maharashtra ruling coalition and disgruntled Sena MLAs continues, minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday said the "positive" thing about the entire crisis is that the “dirt has left the Shiv Sena”. His comments came amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra fuelled by the rebellion of minister Eknath Shinde and some more MLAs who are currently camping at a hotel in Guwahati in Assam, a BJP-ruled state.
Speaking to Shiv Sainiks (party workers) in Mumbai, Thackeray said, “I can understand your zeal and strength and can even notice your anger. I've been visiting and interacting with Shivsainiks and I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing that the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena.”
He said the MLAs who are part of the Shinde-led rebel camp have sold themselves for lakhs and crores of rupees. “These MLAs have sold themselves for lakhs and crores or after their files were opened,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
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Aaditya Thackeray, the son of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and minister of tourism and environment in the Maharashtra cabinet, said warnings about facing betrayal from the Congress and NCP – partners in the ruling coalition of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government – proved to be wrong, as the Sena suffered disloyalty from its own members.
He further said many MLAs who were watchmen, rickshaw drivers, and paan shopkeepers were made ministers. Thackeray said that Eknath Shinde was himself offered the post of chief minister on May 20 but he did "drama".
"On May 20 Uddhav Thackeray offered him (Eknath Shinde) the CM post & he did drama."
He, however, said the MVA government will not fall despite the current rebellion and the coalition will come to power at the Centre too. "The MVA government will continue to govern the state. The power which has brought us here...we will come to power in Delhi too."
He also posed a question to the disgruntled MLAs if they were left with any humanity. “When the CM was hospitalised, they (rebel MLAs) sold themselves. I would like to ask them, is there no humanity left? We trusted them."
"When there was a raid on Yamini Jadhav (rebel MLA) and Yashwant, we came out on the streets. Yesterday, Jadhav said it was not needed. Many people had suggested not to give them a chance, but we gave them an opportunity. What she said yesterday brought tears to my eyes," he added.
Thackeray also hit out at the rebel camp for choosing Assam to camp and stage their rebellion. Assam is currently ravaged by devastating floods that have killed several people and brought normal life to halt.
"They (rebel MLAs) went to Guwahati where there's a flood situation and many people are without shelter and food. They (rebel MLAs) are enjoying there. Bill for meals (for them) in one day is ₹9 lakh, they are taking private choppers and enjoying there. Shame on them," Aaditya said.
