"Uddhav Thackeray Abandoned Bal Thackeray's Ideology": Eknath Shinde To NDTV

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused Uddhav Thackeray of betraying Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has termed the upcoming assembly elections in the state as a battle for development and criticised the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led government for allegedly stalling projects and veering away from the ideological roots laid by Shiv Sena's founder, Bal Thackeray.

"This election is focused on local issues and development. We are fighting this election on the platform of development, and today, the people are so confident that they say, 'This is our government; this is our Chief Minister'. There is a strong connection, and the people are determined to bring the Mahayuti government back to power in this state," Mr Shinde told NDTV. 

The Chief Minister alleged that the ruling Mahayuti alliance - the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sena and NCP factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy, Ajit Pawar - has restored momentum to projects that the previous Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) government - an alliance which includes the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction, and the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar - stalled.