Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray recently made a significant announcement regarding the Waqf Board and religious properties. At a recent event, Thackeray assured that he would not allow anyone to interfere with the Waqf Board’s properties or temples. He emphasized that protecting these assets is a matter of utmost importance, beyond just board-related issues.
Thackeray’s commitment was clear: “I promise to prevent any attempts to touch the Waqf Board or any temple and religious property. This is not merely about board regulations but about our sacred temples. If there are allegations, like the theft of 200 kg of gold from the Kedarnath temple, there should be a thorough investigation.”
Thackeray’s Stance on the Chief Minister’s Post
In a related development, Uddhav Thackeray discussed the Chief Minister’s position within the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance. He criticized the practice where the party with the most MLAs automatically claims the CM role. Reflecting on past alliances, particularly with the BJP, Thackeray noted that such arrangements often lead to internal sabotage, weakening other candidates to boost their own party’s chances.
He stated, “Following the last alliance with the BJP, it became clear that we should reconsider the policy where the party with the most MLAs gets the CM post. We experienced attempts to undermine candidates from partner parties to ensure the victory of their own MLAs.”
Alliance Decision-Making on the Chief Minister’s Role
Thackeray further suggested that the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance should collectively decide on the Chief Minister candidate. He urged the Congress and NCP-SP to propose their preferred CM candidate, promising Shiv Sena UBT’s support. His focus remains on working for the state’s and country’s welfare, countering allegations of betrayal, and demonstrating his party’s strength and unity.
“We should let the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance determine the Chief Minister’s candidate. Congress and NCP-SP should propose their choices, and we will support them. Our goal is to advance Maharashtra and address any challenges posed by political adversaries.”
Upcoming Election Commission Announcement and Political Reactions
The Election Commission is expected to announce assembly election dates soon, with a press conference scheduled for Friday evening. This announcement is anticipated to clarify the timelines for the upcoming elections in various states, including Jharkhand.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma speculated that the Jharkhand assembly election dates might not be revealed in this press conference. “I doubt that the dates for Jharkhand will be announced today; they will likely be scheduled later.”
In contrast, Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed hope that the Election Commission would address assembly election dates for several states. He noted, “Prime Minister’s recent remarks on ‘one country, one election’ raise expectations that the election dates for four states will be announced.”
This political discourse underscores the ongoing debates about electoral policies and alliance strategies as Maharashtra and other states prepare for pivotal elections.
