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The former minister said the BJP-Shinde government has repeatedly prioritised personal gain over public welfare, adding that if voted to power, job creation and rectifying recent government actions would be his faction’s top priority
Aaditya Thackeray was especially critical of land allocations in Mumbai, alleging that prime public land has been handed over to private companies under questionable circumstances. (PTI)
Former Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday pitched for his father and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray as the best choice for leading the state, saying people wanted him to return.
In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Aaditya Thackeray, when asked about the chief minister face if Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) wins the upcoming assembly polls, said: “If you see the recent surveys done by private agencies and many news reports, the people of Maharashtra want Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister. People of the state have seen his work during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the infrastructure projects we launched. Having said that, we are not hungry for power and post. Our focus is to win these elections against Mahayuti.”
The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction leader termed the upcoming elections a decisive moment for Maharashtra’s future. “This isn’t about posts or titles; we’re fighting for the people and the state of Maharashtra,” he asserted, underscoring the ideological stakes that his party believes define this election. Aaditya Thackeray was unsparing in his criticism of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whom he labelled “the most corrupt and illegal CM the state has ever seen”.
He claimed that the BJP-Shinde government has repeatedly prioritised personal gain over public welfare, citing recent incidents as prime examples.
“We have witnessed corruption on a massive scale with no accountability. From road scams to questionable urban planning deals, it’s clear that they have compromised people’s interests,” he said, alleging a Rs 6,080 crore road scam and other local development scams that have, according to him, devastated Maharashtra’s financial integrity.
“Our government will focus on urban and rural planning, which is the need of the hour, and all such illegal deals which this government has signed will be scrapped,” he said.
If voted to power, Aaditya Thackeray assured that job creation and rectifying recent government actions would be his faction’s top priority.
“People need employment, and they deserve jobs that don’t rely on under-the-table transactions or party loyalty,” he said. His vision for Maharashtra, he said, includes a systematic review of all tenders and contracts awarded by the Shinde government, intending to reverse decisions that compromised public welfare for private gain.
He also criticised the current administration’s handling of industrial development in Maharashtra, lamenting the lost opportunities as businesses migrate to Gujarat.
“Maharashtra is losing industries, jobs, and investments. What do we get in return? High GST payments with barely anything back for development,” he argued. “Even if the government is claiming that they have got some projects, if we compared them with projects that went to Gujarat, then these projects in total don’t add up to the total cost of even one of the projects we lost.”
The Shiv Sena UBT leader was especially critical of land allocations in Mumbai, alleging that prime public land has been handed over to private companies under questionable circumstances.
“Why is 1,080 acres in Mumbai being given for free to Adani, and why is BMC not getting the Rs 5,000 crore it’s entitled to? Why does Adani get to decide what’s good for the city?” he asked. His concerns extend to the fate of other major projects, such as the coastal road and slum rehabilitation initiatives, which, he claimed, have been delayed or mismanaged by the current Shinde government because they just wanted to favour few contractors.
Aaditya Thackeray also predicted that BJP would attempt to halt the Ladki Bahin Scheme, introduced to support young women in Maharashtra.
“A source within the BJP hinted that they might file a court petition to put a stay on the scheme. In contrast, we aim to expand it if elected, funding it by cutting payments to contractors benefiting under Shinde’s administration,” he stated. He added, “They promised Rs 15 lakh to everyone and now they have come to Rs 1,500 for eligible women. You never know tomorrow they will ask their people only to approach court and get stay on this scheme, citing burden on exchequer.”
Aaditya also alerted BJP about Shinde sabotaging them. “In this state assembly elections, Shinde will support many independent candidates against BJP and try to cut BJP’s votes. I know how he works and functions. It will happen on many seats where BJP is strong. These independents will be sponsored by Shinde camp.”
One of Aaditya Thackeray’s most impassioned points during the interview centred on the protracted legal battle for the Shiv Sena’s name and emblem. “For two years, we’ve been fighting for justice, but it feels like justice delayed is justice denied,” he remarked, adding that Maharashtra’s political landscape is at risk of destabilising if the judicial system fails to uphold democratic principles. He argued that political poaching and manipulation are increasingly becoming tools for wresting power, with serious consequences for institutional integrity.
In the Lok Sabha election, Shiv Sena UBT lost a few seats with very little margin as many people were confused between symbols and voted for the traditional bow-and-arrow symbol, assuming it to be of Uddhav’s Sena. “People in Maharashtra saw their votes being used as a tool to deceive. Many people voted for the bow-and-arrow symbol, thinking they were voting for UBT but this time we are holding an aggressive campaign and taking our symbol door-to-door so that people of Maharashtra support us.”
While coalition politics in Maharashtra often appear turbulent, Aaditya Thackeray acknowledged Congress’s support, which he said has remained strong since the beginning of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. He also expressed confidence that the parties in the coalition would resolve any seat-sharing issues amicably, ensuring a strong front against the BJP-Shinde alliance. “Yes, frictions are there over few seats and it should be there as it helps us to get the best candidate within the alliance. These frictions are healthy and not personal. I am confident that alliance leaders will certainly clear all these issues and soon we will have our ‘Vachan Nama’ (Manifesto).”
Discussing his plans for Worli, Aaditya Thackeray, who represented the area for the last five years, highlighted numerous development initiatives that began under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, including the BDD chawl redevelopment and the Worli-Sewri project.
“We initiated so many projects in Mumbai, but the momentum has stalled since we left office,” he explained. He also expressed his commitment towards continuing these projects if his father returns to power, pledging that residents in slum rehabilitation projects would finally be resettled in new homes.
Aaditya Thackeray also had a message for those considering an alliance with the BJP. “To every candidate considering the BJP, remember that industries, jobs, and investments are going to Gujarat, not Maharashtra. Supporting BJP means supporting a future where Maharashtra’s potential is sacrificed for political gain,” he said.
Without taking the name of his cousin Amit Thackeray, who is contesting on an MNS ticket from Mahim constituency,
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena UBT has put up a candidate in Mahim against Aaditya Thackeray’s cousin Amit Thackeray who is contesting on an MNS ticket. In 2019, MNS had not fielded any candidate against Aaditya Thackeray who had contested his first-ever election. When asked why his party didn’t return the gesture, he said: “I wish all who are contesting elections all the very best but parties who have given their unconditional support to BJP means they have supported them in job loss of Maharashtra youth and exodus of industries and big-ticket projects. Such parties should come clean on their agenda and views about Maharashtra, then we can think ahead.”
Calling this election “the most important” for Maharashtra,” Aaditya Thackeray made it clear that Uddhav Thackeray’s mission extends beyond personal ambition or power grab. “We’re proudly Hindu, but what the BJP is pushing is electoral Hindutva. Maharashtra’s ethos has always been inclusive, and our aim is to protect it from being dismantled,” he said.
