Election Commission is ‘Completely Compromised,’ Alleges Aaditya Thackeray

GG News Bureau

Mumbai, 13th March. Aaditya Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), claimed on Sunday that the Election Commission is “completely compromised” and that its decision to recognize the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the Shiv Sena and give it the bow and arrow symbol is dangerous for democracy.

He said the acronym “CM” of Maharashtra currently stands for a “corrupt man”, and that the “illegal and unconstitutional chief minister will surely go”.

In an address to party workers in North Mumbai, Thackeray stated that the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s flaming torch (Mashaal) symbol is the only light that will illuminate the darkness caused by betrayal and backstabbing.

He claimed that the rebel MLAs led by Shinde had done the “dirty work” of destabilizing a government that had done good work in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and easing the hardships of farmers affected by the cyclone and unseasonably heavy rains while in power.

“The Maha Vikas Aghadi government was leading Maharashtra to a golden period. An investment of ₹ 6.5 lakh crore was made during the MVA rule of 2.5 years and 93 per cent of the investment proposals had been implemented,” the former minister said.

Thackeray said the Bharatiya Janata Party must be wondering whether the happening (the pulling down of the government) was right or wrong.

He said the most important work of the MVA government was granting a loan waiver to farmers.

“Maharashtra didn’t like betrayals and this is the reason the local body elections, which are overdue, are not being held,” the Worli MLA said.

He claimed that the investments attracted by Maharashtra during the MVA regime were transferred to Gujarat (under the Eknath Shinde-BJP dispensation).

He was confident that the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) would win the Mumbai civic elections whenever they are held.

“You need to have a clean heart and strength to carry the bow and arrow. Merely getting the bow and arrow (symbol) is not enough,” he said.

Thackeray claimed that none of the 40 MLAs who defected to the Shinde camp have categorically stated that they were paid to do so. The Thackeray camp has claimed that money was exchanged for rebel MLAs to switch loyalties to the Shinde camp, and it frequently taunts them with the “50 khoke” (boxes) jibe.

“The 40 MLAs betrayed Uddhav Thackeray. How can they remain true to the people and the state?” he asked.

Thackeray said their Hindutva is “inclusive and everyone’s blood is red”.