G20 podium
Even when BJP and India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) are staking swipe against each other, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday claimed that opposition INDIA group has several faces capable of becoming Prime Minister unlike the BJP. He was responding to a question on who will be INDIA’s PM face especially when BJP is determined to seek votes on Narendra Modi as its PM candidate.
“We have a number of choices who can become the next Prime Minister of the country. But the question is what choice does BJP have since we all have seen the functioning of the present Prime Minister. Are all happy with him?”asked Thackeray. He was addressing the press conference on the eve of third meeting of INDIA in Mumbai. He was accompanied by Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole, Congress Working Committee member Ashok Chavan, NCP state president Jayant Patil and former minister and Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray.
To a question whether INDIA will be able to chalk out seat sharing formula, Pawar said discussion has not yet started. “We have not begun seat sharing yet. It is possible that next steps about seat sharing will be discussed. If that happens then some people will be given the responsibility for the same,” he said, when asked whether regional groups will be formed to take forward the discussion on the seat sharing.
“Around 63 representatives from 28 political parties will participate in the meeting. We believe that this alternative forum will be set up and it will help for transfer of the power, ” said Pawar. He added that the efforts are on to provide a credible alternative to BJP at the national level.
“Mumbai is a historical city which gave the slogan of Quit India in the freedom struggle. Why did Indians fight against the British? Weren’t British bringing development in India? Mere devlopment is not enough to, Independence too is crucial,” Thackeray said.
When asked about the joining of new parties such as Akali Dal, Muslim League or AIMIM, Pawar said that he has held talks with few of them but he cannot take the decision to include them in INDIA front and it needs approval from others in the front as well. He added that it will be a collective decision on their inclusion in INIDA.
‘’It is true that there are different parties. But We can prepare common minimum programme and go ahead, ” he added.
To a specific question on whether former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati will join INDIA, Pawar said she earlier had dialogue with BJP. ‘’I don’t know whether it is still on. Unless there is clarity on this there will no decision on her induction,’’he said.
Earlier, Thackeray added that he does not believe in word opposition but on the contrary the alliance is formed to safeguard the ‘Bharat Mata’ from the authoritative regime. “Yes, all of us are of different ideologies. But our aim is to safeguard constitution against the authoritative regime. This is democracy. We are here to safeguard democracy. We will not let any dictator to chain Bharat Mata,” he added.
Taking the union government led by PM Narendra Modi head on about the union cabinet’s decision to reduce the prices of gas cylinder by Rs 200, Thackeray said that taunted PM asking had he forgotten his ‘sisters’ for past nine years and remember them suddenly ahead of elections.
Former CM and Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that just how brother vows to safeguard interests of his sister on Raksha Bandhan, the INDIA front too vows to protect Bharat Mata. “Mumbai has been the origin of many political, social and financial revolutions in the country. This meeting will pave way to yet another revolution,” he said.
“We have been raisin the voice against the issues such as unemployment, inflation. In 2019, all opposition parties polled 23.40 crore votes while BJP had around 22 crore. The numbers are evident itself,” he said.
Both Thackeray and Pawar were asked about splits in their respective parties to which Pawar said, “Those who left us will be shown their place by the people during elections.”
