MVA govt’s steering wheel in my hands: Thackeray’s dare to opposition

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray dared the opposition to topple his government and said though it is a “three-wheeler” government, he is firmly in control of its steering wheel, in the second and last part of his interview published in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Sunday (July 26), ahead of his 60th birthday on Monday.

Thackeray, who is also president of the Shiv Sena, said his alliance partners – NCP and Congress – are “positive” and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is benefitting from
their experience.

“The future of my government is not in the hands of the opposition. The steering is in my hands. A three-wheeler (auto-rickshaw) is a vehicle of poor people. The other two are sitting behind,” Thackeray said.

He dared the opposition to topple his government right away, in a clear jibe at the Rajasthan government’s political crisis. “Why wait for September-October as is being speculated. Topple the government right now since you get pleasure in toppling. Some people derive pleasure in constructive work while some are happy in destruction. If you feel happy in destruction, go ahead,” he said.

He lashed out on people questioning the democratic grounds on which MVA government was formed and hit back by asking if it was democracy to topple governments.

Notably, his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis earlier compared the ruling MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena and its ideological opponents Congress and NCP, with a three-wheeler, auto-rickshaw, and raised doubts over its stability.

Thackeray admitted the state’s economy is not in good shape, but noted the entire world is facing such a crisis.

He further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked all chief ministers not to announce any waivers or subsidies as populist measures due to which the economy would be further burdened.

To a question, Thackeray said he hadn’t switched sides, but only entered into an alliance. “I did this because the purpose with which I had joined hands earlier turned out to be hollow,” he said.

Asserting that the party ideology is important, he said, “Show me one leader who has reached the top position in the party which he has defected to. It is all use and throw policy.”

The chief minister said he would scrap projects which people feel are unwanted. He said MoUs worth Rs 16,000 crore signed recently are in initial stages and more investments are on the anvil. “If the state requires a bullet train, I would demand a bullet train to connect Mumbai and Nagpur. I would like a bullet train which connects my state capital and the second capital. The feeling of neglect among people of Vidarbha would be wiped out,” he said.

He also said the Congress’s grievance of being neglected in the three-party alliance government was resolved after his meeting with the state Congress leaders. “I have good coordination with (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar. I make a phone call to (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi some times,” he said.

Thackeray asserted that the tripartite MVA government was functioning well. “I admit that in the last few months, face-to-face meetings haven’t happened. One more minister is coronavirus positive now after Jitendra Awhad, Ashok Chavan and Dhananjay Munde. All ministers are in touch with each other over phone or through video conferencing,” he said.

Asked about the participation of Chinese firms in investing in the state, he said more than the presence of Chinese firms in the recent MoUs, what is important is whether Chinese investments should remain in the country or not. “During a video conference meeting with the prime minister, I had requested him to frame a national policy on doing business with China,” he said.

Thackeray also said his government had kept the MoUs with Chinese firms on hold. “There should be a policy on whether Chinese companies should be allowed to do business in the country. If tomorrow, the situation improves and the Chinese prime minister is welcomed in India, why should we miss the business opportunities now?” he asked.

The chief minister also rejected criticism that bureaucracy has an upper hand in his government. “The government is the decision-maker and bureaucracy implements the decisions,” he added.