Chavan takes a dig at Thackeray, says his views don’t count

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday asserted that the Congress-NCP alliance will displace the Sena-BJP from Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur municipal corporations in the ensuing civic elections. Pradip Kumar Maitra reports.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday asserted that the Congress-NCP alliance will displace the Sena-BJP from Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur municipal corporations in the ensuing civic elections.

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Chavan, who was here for a one-day Nagpur-Amravati tour said that a change of power is imminent across the state, particularly in Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur. “We have greater chances in Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and Nashik,” he said.

The chief minister blamed the saffron alliance for messing up Mumbai and other municipalities on development aspects, particularly in shaping major infrastructure projects. The state government will bring more uniformity in decision-making between the corporation, the state and Centre on various urban development projects if the alliance wins in the elections, he announced.

According to Chavan, the state government has allocated Rs1 lakh crore for developmental activities in Mumbai.

Asked for his reaction on Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s scathing attack on him through an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna, Chavan ridiculed the Sena chief saying Thackeray can never say anything constructive and his views on development do not count because of his brand of politics.

Chavan also released the joint manifesto of the Congress-NCP, Lokmanch-RPI alliance for the February 16 Nagpur municipal corporation elections.