We’ve to stop Maharashtra’s ‘Bhajapa-karan’, their raid on state’s coffers: Aaditya Thackeray

Aaditya Thackeray, former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader, claims that just weeks before Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime in June 2022 to become the chief minister in an alliance with the BJP, he had the Enforcement Directorate (ED) breathing down his neck.
Thackeray, who is seeking re-election to the Maharashtra legislative assembly from Worli in Mumbai, charged that Shinde had come to meet then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and broken down fearing arrest by the ED. In an exclusive conversation with Dhaval S. Kulkarni, Thackeray ruled out any truck with the BJP, which he alleged was anti-democratic and against the interests of Maharashtra. He said the Opposition MVA stood united. Edited excerpts:
On the MVA’s key poll issues.
A. For the past two-and-half years, Eknath Shinde and the BJP are looting Maharashtra. We want to stop this loot. Around 500,000 employment opportunities have shifted to Gujarat. This will be stopped. The BJP is creating social and caste rifts to win elections. We will have to fight this. The BJP is trying to do ‘Bhajapa-karan’ (BJP-isation) of Maharashtra. They are promoting mob lynching and dividing people based on issues like the colour of clothes. We will have to stop this ‘Bhajapa-karan’ because the culture of the BJP and that of Maharashtra are poles apart.
If the Shiv Sena (UBT) will ally with the BJP again.
A. How can we go with a BJP that is anti-democratic, against Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ideals and hates Maharashtra?
On the charge that Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena as the ED was after him.
A. On May 20, 2022, Eknath Shinde came to Varsha (the chief minister’s official residence at Malabar Hill in Mumbai). He said he may be arrested by the ED and broke down while sitting in the lawn. A couple of his associates had been picked up by the ED and were missing for some time; so, he was frightened.
On the competitive populism over the Ladki Bahin scheme, with both the Mahayuti and MVA promising to increase the monthly dole of Rs 1,500 to women.
A. We see these measures as welfare schemes and not freebies. The BJP has given freebies to the Adani [Group] in the Dharavi redevelopment project. People don’t have employment opportunities. There is high inflation, and it is difficult for households to make ends meet. In this situation, people need some support. They may not have been paid Rs 15 lakh (a promise the BJP is accused of making to Indians in the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary polls), but at least they are getting Rs 1,500!
The public squabbles in the MVA.
A. Opposition unity is 100 per cent. This unity will be visible in the elections and in the MVA’s government formed thereafter.
What is the MVA’s chief ministerial formula? Will the CM come from the party with the highest number of MLAs?
A. Our chief minister will work for the interests of Maharashtra. Politics is not arithmetic. So, there is no formula per se. But neither will Eknath Shinde be the chief minister nor anyone from the BJP.
The BJP’s ‘Batenge toh katenge’ slogan.
A. This is true. If we are divided, Maharashtra will suffer at the hands of the BJP. The BJP will raid Maharashtra’s coffers.
On charges about his inaccessibility as an MLA.
A. Where were these people, who are making these allegations against me, during the Covid pandemic? Some ensconced themselves in their farmhouses. We have worked for the people during the pandemic. Some of these leaders were even ready to join us but we refused to take them in. After all, what was the benefit for Maharashtra if we gave them a Rajya Sabha berth?
On who is his bigger challenger—Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister Milind Deora of the Shiv Sena or Sandeep Deshpande of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)?
A. I consider all 10 candidates to be important.
On the challenge posed by MNS.
A. Some political parties wake up before the elections and get into political skullduggery. We have worked for the past five years. The MNS is siding with the sons of soil of Gujarat and not those of Maharashtra. They are supporting the BJP, Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis. Let them clarify their stand on the lathi-charge against supporters of [Manoj] Jarange-Patil, the varkaris, and on the shifting of industries to Gujarat.
On his work as MLA in his constituency.
A. We launched the first mobile Covid-care centre for the people of Worli and Mumbai. The redevelopment of the BDD (Bombay Development Department) chawls was pending for the last 25 years despite Devendra Fadnavis performing the ground-breaking ceremony. We took the project to fruition, and one tower is ready. Slum Rehabilitation Authority projects that were stuck have been initiated.
Q. The work he plans to do in the next five years.
A. The issue of housing needs to be addressed. The missing links, work on the Worli-Sewri connector, open spaces will be completed.
On whether politics is Maharashtra is taking an emotive turn and swerving away from the grassroots realities.
A. I addressed press conferences on the state of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) and the grant of the Dharavi makeover project to the Adani group. I also spoke about the irregularities in the grant of road construction contracts by the Mumbai civic body. But yes, the BJP has spoilt Maharashtra’s political atmosphere.
Subscribe to India Today Magazine