Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Friday took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that wherever he goes, defeat follows.

He further stated that Rahul Gandhi is “the captain of those who keep losing” while attacking the INDIA bloc.

Contrasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan, “Neither will I indulge in corruption nor allow corruption”, with what he described as the opposition’s approach, Shinde said: “Neither will I win nor let others win.”

He was speaking at a rally organised on the occasion of Shiv Sena’s 60th anniversary.

Shinde also congratulated PM Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving Prime Minister of India.

He said that PM Modi’s tenure has remained free from any taint of corruption.

Historic decisions such as the construction of Ram Mandir and the abrogation of Article 370 fulfilled the dream of Bal Thackeray, he added.

He noted that at the NDA meeting, Shiv Sena was given the honour of moving the resolution felicitating the Prime Minister.

Shinde also congratulated Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that under his leadership, Left Wing Extremism had been effectively curbed in Maharashtra and the historic decision to abrogate Article 370 had been implemented.

He said that if Balasaheb Thackeray were alive today, he too would have congratulated Prime Minister Modi and HM Amit Shah.

Shinde said that this year marks the birth centenary year of Balasaheb Thackeray and that Shiv Sena has now emerged as the second-largest party in Maharashtra.

He credited ordinary Shiv Sainiks with taking the party to every village.

“Balasaheb Thackeray’s true heirs are my Shiv Sainiks. Succession is not determined by blood relations but by ideology. Shiv Sena is not a piece of land; it is the ideology of millions of people,” he said.

Targeting Shiv Sena (UBT), he said that those suggesting certain parties should merge with the Congress should first introspect about their own declining strength.

Shinde said that when he chose a different path in 2022, the opposition had predicted that not a single MLA would win and that he would return to his village to take up farming.

However, with the trust and hard work of Shiv Sainiks, Shiv Sena increased its strength from 40 to 60 MLAs, he said, crediting party workers for the achievement.

Shinde said that some people are trying to create differences between him and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, but the Mahayuti alliance remains completely united and strong.

He expressed confidence that the opposition would fail to open its account in the Legislative Council elections.

He said that the government’s sole agenda is development and the welfare of all sections of society.

Recalling the launch of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, he said that some people had attempted to stop it, but the women of Maharashtra gave them a fitting reply.

“I promise that no matter what happens, no force in the world can stop the Ladki Bahin Yojana,” he said.

Shinde accused some leaders of indulging in politics driven by ego and refusing to introspect.

He said that during Zilla Parishad and municipal elections, they abandoned their workers and the people showed them their real strength.

On the possibility of drought conditions in Maharashtra, Shinde said that the government is fully prepared.

He assured farmers that the government would stand firmly with them in any crisis.

“If anyone has the first right over Maharashtra’s treasury, it is our farmers,” he said.

Shinde urged party workers to pay special attention to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and appoint more Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

–IANS

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