Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his final public rally ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Thursday, sharply criticizing the opposition and its key leaders, particularly Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress party.
Modi launched a direct jibe at Thackeray, accusing him of surrendering control of his party to the Congress. “Mumbai is a city of self-respect, but a party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has handed over its ‘remote control’ to those who insulted Balasaheb Thackeray,” the PM remarked, referring to the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its alliance partners. He further challenged the MVA to get Congress leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, to publicly praise the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, asserting that they had failed to do so.
Earlier, during a rally in Nashik on November 8, Modi had challenged the MVA to make Congress leaders praise both Thackeray and Veer Savarkar for 15 minutes, adding that such a feat had yet to be achieved.
Continuing his attack, PM Modi targeted the Congress party, calling it a “fish out of water,” and accusing it of being desperate for power. He emphasized that during the Congress regime, terror attacks were rampant across the country, but under his leadership, such attacks had been curtailed as the “terror masters” now feared retaliation. “People were once scared of unclaimed objects, but today that fear has been eliminated,” he claimed.
PM Modi also took aim at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, accusing its members of undermining national progress and prioritizing party interests over the country’s well-being. He criticized the opposition for questioning India’s achievements, citing their objection when the government granted Marathi the status of a “classical language.” “For them, their organization is more important than the country,” Modi said.
The PM further slammed the MVA for its alleged appeasement politics, pointing out that the opposition had objected to key national developments, such as the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the use of the term “saffron terrorism,” and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. “MVA has become a slave of appeasement,” Modi declared.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting the Maharashtra Assembly elections in alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, under the Mahayuti banner. They face off against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (led by Sharad Pawar), and the Congress.
Voting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections will take place on November 20, with results set to be announced on November 23.
