There will be earthquake if I start speaking: Eknath Shinde in veiled threat to Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde while speaking at a rally on Saturday, said, "There will be an earthquake if I start giving interviews."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in a veiled warning to Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray said there will be an “earthquake” if he started speaking. Shinde was speaking at a rally in Malegaon on Saturday.

"There will be an earthquake if I start giving interviews. Unlike some people, I never travelled abroad every year for holidays. Shiv Sena and its growth were the only things on my mind," he said.

Thackeray resigned from his position as chief minister in June after Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs rebelled against his coalition government with the Congress and NCP. Uddhav Thackeray had often referred to the rebel MLAs as “traitors”.

ALSO READ | Prove majority: Poll body in Thackeray vs Shinde fight over Sena, symbol

Without taking Uddhav Thackeray’s name Shinde said he rebelled as he wanted to "protect Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy”. "What do you call those who compromise with Balasaheb's ideology just to become chief minister?" he asked.

Shinde also questioned how the Shiv Sena fought elections in alliance with the BJP but formed a government with Congress and NCP. “Isn’t this a betrayal?” asked Shinde.

The Sena faction led by him and BJP would together win 200 out of 288 seats in the next Assembly elections, he said.