Vote for NCP, Congress but not for BJ, says Uddhav in Pune ahead of bypolls

During his address, Uddhav Thackeray said that this bypoll was supposed to be unopposed, but the BJP “uses people and throws them away when their purpose is served”.

Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. (File Photo)

By Ritvick Arun Bhalekar: Addressing a virtual rally ahead of the Pune bypolls, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urged his party members to vote for Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) but not for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

During his address, Uddhav said that this bypoll was supposed to be unopposed, but BJP “uses people and throws them away when their purpose is served”.

“There was a rumour campaign done during the Kolhapur by-polls that whether Shiv Sainiks will vote for Congress and NCP. I told them yes, they will vote, because didn’t we vote for BJP for the last twenty-five years?” Uddhav said.

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Further, he said the BJP had been treating his party in a more brutal manner than how Congress and NCP treated them at the time.

“Hence, I appeal to everyone– don’t support the BJP, directly or indirectly, who is trying to eradicate us from our roots. If anyone wishes to help the BJP, then better not use the name, Shiv Sena,” he said.

“I accept the fact that we have been fighting against Congress and NCP for the last thirty years, but now, when we are in alliance with them as a part of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), they have stolen our name and party symbol. They tried to break and finish us. I am not ready to accept this kind of politics and democracy,” said Uddhav.

“In Chinchwad’s seat wife of late MLA Laxman Jagtap was given a ticket to contest to gather sympathy by BJP. However, the great social reformer Lokmanya Tilak’s family was betrayed by the BJP in the Kasba Assembly seat by not giving a candidate from the late MLA Mukta Tilak’s family. The time has come that we cannot afford to show any sympathy towards the BJP, warned Uddhav to voters,” he added.

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