For political domination, Uddhav wants party MLAs to focus on farmers’ issue

“Do not compromise on issues related to the state. Do not ignore farmers’ issues. If you want to rule the state single handedly, start working right now....” Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray advised party MLAs at a meeting on Wednesday.

“We are here to support all the good that the government does. But, we should not hesitate to criticise whatever is bad,” Uddhav Thackeray said at the meeting of party MLAs at the Rang Sharda auditorium in Bandra.

Uddhav had addressed Sena corporators from Mumbai at a similar meeting on Tuesday. He spoke of the power in the corporation and the elections that are due early next year. On Wednesday he spoke on the Sena’s stand over the land acquisition act. “Never compromise people’s issues. You may have rights or not, but never ignore farmers’ issues. If you want to enjoy power single handed, start working today,” he told ministers and MLAs.

“I have spoken to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and appraised him of Sena’s stand over the issue,” Thackeray told reporters after the meeting with MLAs. He also said that he would also be writing to the union government clarifying party’s stand and seeking the government’s clarification on certain issues, he said.

Uddhav also told the MLAs to be in their respective legislative house during the entire period of the session, which would start next week. Uddhav also asked the MLAs to collect information on the lands acquired in the state and the status of the projects that were to come up. “We should also check whether the rehabilitation of people was properly done there,” he said.

Though, the party sources termed the meeting as a ‘routine’ event before assembly session, the political circles are abuzz with speculations over the Sena-BJP rift. The Sena had been attacking the BJP over something right since they agreed to join the government in December last year. They criticised BJP over portfolio allotment, then over the LED bulbs on the marine drive. Now, along with the land acquisition act, the night life in Mumbai and the new development plan of the city is slated to become the new contentious issue between the two partners.

“D on’t ignore farmers’ issues. If you want to rule the state single-handedly, start working right now....” -- Uddhav Thackeray,

Shiv Sena chief