A political war of words erupted in Maharashtra on Monday after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray dubbed Union Home Minister Amit Shah an “anaconda” who wants to “swallow Mumbai.” Responding sharply, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused Thackeray of “devouring Mumbai’s treasury” during his tenure.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Shinde said, “Yesterday, Amit Shah came and gave two boats to fishermen in Mumbai for deep-sea fishing. Many more such boats will be distributed by the central government. The Prime Minister is also coming tomorrow. He (Thackeray) talks about an anaconda? He himself is the anaconda who sat on Mumbai’s tijori (treasury). The anaconda’s stomach is never full—it devoured Mumbai’s funds, took over plots of land, ate patients’ khichdi, and pocketed money even from body bags.”
Shinde alleged that the Opposition always resorts to such rhetoric during elections. “When the Mahayuti government was formed, development began—concrete roads, beautification projects, Metro work. They had stalled all of it. People now know who brings progress and who swallows Mumbai,” he added.
Earlier, while addressing party workers in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray accused the ruling BJP of “vote theft,” claiming that democracy had turned upside down. “In democracy, voters choose governments, but today governments are choosing voters,” he said, demanding that a case be registered against the Election Commissioner for “corrupt practices” involving bogus voters.
Thackeray also took a dig at the BJP for constructing a new state office near Churchgate station while failing to build the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan and Marathi Theatre Gallery approved by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Hitting back, BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Thackeray was “depressed” after facing repeated electoral defeats. “Uddhav ji should see himself in the mirror because he is a python who lies idle and hisses at others’ hard work,” Bawankule said, adding that Thackeray was aware of his party’s declining prospects in upcoming local body polls.
Continuing his attack, Thackeray said while the BJP talks about Atmanirbhar Bharat, it has failed to become “Atmanirbhar BJP” as it depends on breaking parties and “stealing votes.” He called the BJP a “bogus gang of self-proclaimed patriots and petty thieves” that creates religious divisions to win elections.
Thackeray also reiterated his concerns about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), warning that after the Lok Sabha elections, if the BJP retains power, “the Election Commissioners will be booked and made to face trial.”
