Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stirred a fresh controversy on Tuesday, alleging in the Legislative Council that former CM Uddhav Thackeray had sought forgiveness from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed a desire to reunite with the BJP. However, Shinde claimed that Thackeray changed his stance after returning to Mumbai.
Presenting what he termed an “inside account,” Shinde stated, “Uddhav Thackeray met PM Modi in Delhi and said, ‘Please forgive me… we want to join hands with you again.’ But once he was back in Mumbai, he went back on his word.”
Shinde also accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab of engaging in secret negotiations. “Anil Parab, you also approached BJP leaders when you received a legal notice. You pleaded for help, and once you got relief, you switched loyalties. I know this very well,” he alleged.
Justifying his decision to break away from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, Shinde asserted that his faction operated openly, unlike Thackeray’s covert dealings. “We never hid anything. We took a clear stance when the Shiv Sena’s ideology and Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy were at risk. The moment you (Thackeray) aligned with Aurangzeb’s ideology, we overturned your cart,” he declared.
