Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Apr 25 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday likened the accomplishments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last ten years to the Himalayas and said the work done by the Congress was like a hillock.
Addressing an election rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shinde also took potshots at Uddhav Thackeray, saying he had never seen a “chameleon” that changes colours so fast. Later, he said the Nashik Lok Sabha seat traditionally belonged to his party Shiv Sena and that talks were on between Mahayuti partners over the Thane seat.
This Lok Sabha election is all about development, growth and making Narendra Modi the prime minister for the third time, he said canvassing for Sena candidate Sandeepan Bhumre, who is also his cabinet colleague.
Bhumre, who filed his nomination from Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) will take on Chandrakant Khaire of Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and AIMIM’s sitting MP Imitiaz Jaleel.
“The work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last ten years can be compared to the height of the Himalayas while the work done by the Congress is like a ‘tekdi’ (hillock),” he said.
Shinde claimed even a man who is asleep will prefer Modi over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi because the country has got a prime minister who has not taken a day off in the last 10 years.
Playing an audio clip of Thacekray’s old speech appealing to the people to vote for Modi, Shinde said he had never seen a “chameleon” that changes colours so fast.
“Earlier, they would sing praises of Narendra Modi. Chameleons change their colours. But I saw a chameleon that changes colours so fast for the first time,” he said at the rally in the Gulmandi area.
Shinde also sought votes for Raosaheb Patil Danve, BJP leader and Mahayuti candidate for neighbouring Jalna Lok Sabha seat.
Aurangabad and Jalna Lok Sabha seats will go to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.
“They criticise me saying I go in a helicopter and do farming (at his village). It takes 8 hours for me to reach Mahabaleshwar (near Shinde’s village). But I can sign 10,000 files in those eight hours,” he said.
Referring to Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s “inheritance tax” remark, Shinde said Congress has set eyes on the property of the poor even before the election is over.
About the Congress’ election manifesto, Shinde said, “Congress has no right to publish their manifesto. They should first tell what they did earlier. They should bring out a ‘mafinama’ (apology) instead of a manifesto.” After the rally, Shinde told reporters that the Nashik Lok Sabha seat traditionally belonged to the Shiv Sena and that talks were going on over the Thane seat, which is currently represented by his son Shrikant Shinde.
“The decision (over the seats) will be taken unanimously,” he said.
Hemant Godse, the sitting MP from the north Maharashtra constituency, belongs to the Shiv Sena.
The ruling Mahayutu, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is yet to declare its candidate for Nashik. Last week, senior NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said he had decided not to seek the ticket from Nashik to end the deadlock over it.
During his interaction with reporters, Shinde also slammed Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar over his party’s manifesto and other opposition leaders.
The NCP (SP) on Thursday unveiled its manifesto, favouring caste census and promising a separate commission for farmers’ welfare, right to apprenticeship and 50 per cent reservation for women in jobs.
“Sharad Pawar was the country’s agriculture minister. He has been Maharashtra’s chief minister four times. Then why is the condition of farmers in the state like this,” he asked. PTI AW PR NR NR
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