A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray expressed displeasure over the developments in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where his party corporators supported the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, local MNS leader and former MLA Raju Patil on Sunday said the alliance was formed to protect party corporators from poaching.
Patil asserted that the alliance with the Shiv Sena was for the benefit of the MNS and not for self-interest: “We have only extended support to the Shinde faction; we have not joined the administration. To do that, one has to form a separate group, which we have not done. My corporators must get justice, and it is my responsibility to look after their political future.”
Patil further said that Thackeray had been informed of the decision in advance.
Without naming anyone, Patil also launched an attack on Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. “Everyone has opportunities in politics. But if someone claims to be a friend while poaching city presidents, district presidents and women’s wing chiefs, if a party is constantly working to break my party, I am not so naive as not to recognize it. A generous enemy is better than a deceitful friend,” he said.
“Support was extended to protect my corporations from being stolen elsewhere,” he admitted.
Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation being Chavan’s territory, several local MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders had joined the BJP, significantly undermining the opposition.
Speculation has been rife in political circles after MNS corporators backed Shinde’s Shiv Sena following the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation elections.
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During an event marking the birth anniversary of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray at Shanmukhananda Hall, Raj Thackeray expressed his intense anger over the political situation in the state, including in Kalyan-Dombivli.
“Today a slave market has opened in the country and in Maharashtra. If we look at this market in BombayKalyan-Dombivli and other places is truly disgusting. Seeing all this, I feel that it is better that Balasaheb is not here. How distressed would you have been upon seeing this? commented on Saturday.