MUMBAI: Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray reiterated at the party’s 52nd anniversary function in Mumbai, on Tuesday, that his party will fight the 2019 Lok Sabha polls without a pre-poll alliance with the BJP. A visit to Uddhav’s residence by BJP national President Amit Shah a few days ago had sparked rumours that Sena might change its earlier stand on fighting elections separately. However, that speculation was laid to rest by Uddhav’s announcement.
Uddhav took the opportunity of the party anniversary function to once again attack the BJP and Prime Minister Modi. “While many promises remain unfulfilled by the BJP, the Prime Minister is focused only on travelling abroad. He will perhaps now travel to different planets,” Uddhav said sarcastically.
“The bullet train project promoted by PM Modi will only result in people from Gujarat reaching Mumbai city faster. In a way, it’s an attempt to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and make it a city more aligned to Gujarat. The BJP is taking away all the important establishments based in Mumbai either to Ahmedabad or New Delhi,” Uddhav claimed.
“We will launch a state-wide campaign from today to reach every village and ask people if they have benefited from the projects implemented by the BJP government. We will fight the upcoming elections on our own strength and Shiv Sena will aim to get majority on its own,” Uddhav said.
