Sena (UBT) mocks BJP’s first list, questions ticket to Kripashankar Singh
Uddhav Thackeray expresses shock at inclusion of former Congress leader accused of graft in ruling party’s list of candidates for LS poll; Modi’s guarantee is giving clean chit to corrupt: Raut
Mocking the first list of 195 candidates released by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Lok Sabha election, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Sunday said the list comprised leaders like Kripashankar Singh, a former Congressman who served as a Maharashtra Minister, whom the BJP had threatened to put in prison over graft charges.
Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed astonishment at the exclusion of BJP stalwarts like Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari from the first list, while those like Mr. Singh, previously accused of money laundering, made the cut.
Alluding to the list, Mr. Thackeray recalled his past collaboration with Mr. Gadkari, who had expedited the completion of the MumbaiPune Expressway — the brainchild of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
Sena (UBT) spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vaunted “guarantees” only amounted to either absorbing into the BJP, or giving tickets, to leaders accused of corruption from the Congress and other parties.
“Today, Kripashankar Singh has been given a ticket from Jaunpur, near Varanasi. Earlier, Ashok Chavan, facing allegations in the Adarsh scam, was made a Rajya Sabha MP by the BJP as soon as he joined the party. The case against [Deputy Chief Minister] Ajit Pawar pertaining to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam, allegedly totalling ₹40,000 crore, has now been sclosed. Once upon a time, [State BJP leader] Devendra Fadnavis had said he would throw all these leaders in jail. So, is this Modi’s guarantee? That Kripashankar gets a ticket, Ajit Pawar gets a clean chit, and Ashok Chavan is given a Rajya Sabha berth?” Mr. Raut said, speaking in Nashik.
‘File defamation case’ Meanwhile, Mr. Raut urged Mr. Pawar’s wife, Sunetra, to file a defamation suit against Mr. Fadnavis.
The Sena (UBT) leader was speaking in the context of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police recently filing a closure report in the MSCB scam in which Mr. Pawar was named.
“Now, the EOW has filed a closure report in the case. So, ultimately, where is the proof against Ajit Pawar on which Mr. Fadnavis had based his allegations? Because of these allegations, Mr. Pawar had to break with his family [Pawar clan], stab his uncle [Sharad Pawar] in the back and split the NCP to join the BJP government. So, Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar [Ajit’s son] ought to file a defamation case against Mr. Fadnavis,” Mr. Raut said.