Accusing Devendra Fadnavis of “hatching a conspiracy” to put him and his son Aaditya Thackeray in jail, Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray Wednesday said that either him or the deputy chief minister will remain in politics. “Anil Deshmukh has revealed now how a conspiracy was hatched by Fadnavis to put me and Aaditya (Thackeray) in jail. I have endured everything, but still standing bravely and firmly. So now either you (Fadnavis) will remain in politics or I will remain. Today, I have no party, symbol, or money, But I am challenging the BJP because of the courage of all the Shiv Sainiks who are with me,” Uddhav said while addressing party functionaries at Rangsharda hall in Mumbai. The former Maharashtra chief minister also dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to Maharashtra to campaign for the BJP during the upcoming assembly elections, adding that Modi had to sweat during the campaigning for Lok Sabha polls. “Modi must come to Maharashtra for Vidhan Sabha polls,” he said. Uddhav also accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of looting Mumbai. He said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was being financially weakened and its money was being diverted for other infrastructure agencies like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC). He said after coming to power, the MVA government will scrap the MMRDA. NCP MLA and former state minister Anil Deshmukh had claimed recently that he was forced by an associate of the Devendra Fadnavis to sign affidavits against Uddhav if he does not want to go to jail. Responding to the statements made by Uddhav, state BJP president Chandrasekhar Bawankule said that the Sena UBT chief doesn't not understand what he is talking about and he is challenging the Fadnavis and Modi by relying on the Muslim and Christian votes. "Uddhav Thackeray is challenging Devendra Fadnavis on the basis of Christian and Muslim votes. Uddhav Thackeray should think what Balasaheb Thackeray would have thought, after hearing his language. In fact, he doesn't even know what he is talking about,” Bawankule said. Describing Uddhav as “arrogant”, Bawankule added, “Fadnavis is our most prized and capable leader. He has the blessings of God and goodwill of people of Maharashtra and outside. Even after taking several births, Uddhav will not be able to finish off Fadnavis politically.”
