Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said it was the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) that had "back-stabbed" party supremo Bal Thackeray even as he accused Sharad Pawar of "pitting" people against each other for deriving political mileage.
"It was NCP which back-stabbed Bal Thackeray. NCP chief (Sharad Pawar) is only interested in making people quarrel and offers unsought advice to people... Tell me in what way Maharashtra has benefited from his experience (in politics)," Uddhav said, addressing a Sena-BJP rally for April 22 civic polls for Navi Mumbai and Aurangabad. However, he did not elaborate on 'back-stabbing' by NCP.
Launching a veiled attack on NCP strongman from Navi Mumbai and former minister Ganesh Naik, Uddhav said, "We have buried one (Narayan Rane who lost to Sena in Bandra-East bypoll) and will bury another one (Naik) in the forthcoming elections."
Uddhav also attacked state unit Congress president Ashok Chavan who had to resign as chief minister in the wake of the Adarsh building scam.
"If Chavan could build Adarsh (the scam-tainted highrise in south Mumbai) then why couldn't he solve the housing problems of Mathadi (head-loaders) workers and slum-dwellers," he asked.
Sena is contesting 68 seats and its ally BJP 43 for 111 wards in Navi Mumbai civic polls. In contrast, the Congress and NCP failed to clinch an alliance to take on the saffron combine.
Seeking to dismiss reports of any differences between his party and BJP, Uddhav said, "When a Pakistan flag flutters in Kashmir do you expect us to fight among ourselves in the civic elections?" Uddhav said rebels working against the interest of party will be shown the door.
In 113 wards in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the Sena is fighting on 64 seats and the BJP 49. Congress and NCP are contesting separately wherein the former has fielded 102 candidates and is supporting 5 independents, whereas the Sharad Pawar-led party is contesting 76 seats.
Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has fielded 53 nominees. The Sena-BJP alliance is ruling AMC since last 15 years.
The civic elections are being seen as an important precursor to the municipal polls scheduled for early 2017 in Maharashtra's 10 main cities, including Mumbai, which has the richest civic body in Asia with a budget more than that of a state like Kerala.
