Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant has publicly disclosed that his party was initially eager to contest the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, he stated that the party was compelled to take an independent route after negotiations with the BJP's top leadership did not yield a positive result.
Failed Alliance Talks and Independent Path
Addressing a gathering in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Tuesday, Samant revealed that he was actively in touch with BJP functionaries to explore a possible seat-sharing agreement. The talks, however, did not fructify, leading both parties to decide to fight the elections independently. "Perhaps sensing that the alliance may not materialise, they decided to fight the elections independently," Samant remarked. He clarified that his purpose was not to criticise but to explain what Shiv Sena could deliver for the city's residents.
Crediting Shinde's Leadership and Development Push
In his speech, Samant extensively credited Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for spearheading major development initiatives in the city. He highlighted that the bold decision to rename the city from Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was taken under Shinde's leadership. Furthermore, he asserted that critical funding for water supply projects, road infrastructure, and the establishment of Udyog Bhavan were all secured due to Shinde's efforts.
Samant made a striking comparison regarding development funds, claiming that while local politicians had demanded projects worth Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 crore, the city ultimately received projects valued at nearly Rs 60,000 crore. "This is what real development looks like," he emphasised, positioning Shinde as the forefront leader in development and healthcare for the region.
Election Promises and Political Barbs
The minister laid out specific promises for the civic polls. He guaranteed that the party's candidate would ensure 24x7 water supply, vowing to personally apologise if this commitment was not met. In his capacity as Industries Minister, he also promised to organise employment fairs in the city to boost local job opportunities.
On welfare schemes, Samant gave a strong assurance regarding the Ladki Bahin Yojana, stating, "As long as the earth, moon and sun exist, this scheme will not be discontinued." He added that a study was underway to potentially increase the scheme's benefit to Rs 2,100.
Samant also took a sharp dig at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. "We have the bow and arrow (dhanushyabaan). What they have is Rashid Mamu," he said, dismissing the need to speak much about the rival group. He further defended the party's city district president, Rajendra Janjal, against allegations, branding them as a sign of opponents' frustration.
Urging voters for support, Samant concluded by asking them to elect not just Janjal but all other party candidates, framing the election as a choice for continued development under the Shinde-led Shiv Sena's governance.
