Maharashtra: CM Eknath Shinde defends rebellion against Shiv Sena, says took 'contract' for development of state

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said he has taken a contract for development of the state and to ensure prosperity and welfare of its people hitting back at his opponents over their constant jibe at him since assuming the top officeSpeaking in the Assembly Shinde defended his revolt against the Shiv Sena leadership in June which brought down the twoandahalfyearold Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government and asserted his act was neither unconstitutional nor illegalReplying to an Opposition sponsored debate on various issues facing the state on the last day of the monsoon session the chief minister said he has been often described as a contract CM by his opponentsShinde maintained peoples welfare was his only agendaWhen Union minister Narayan Rane made some comments last year against the thenchief minister Uddhav Thackeray he was arrested But I would say I have taken a contract for development of the state prosperity and welfare of its people he saidIn an apparent reference to being constantly targeted as a betrayer by the Uddhav Thackerayled faction of the Shiv Sena since his rebellion Shinde described criticism against him as a sign of ideological bankruptcyAlso Read Oppn legislators Eknath Shinde faction MLAs shout slogans against each otherWho has betrayed the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and mandate of the people by forging an unnatural alliance for the sake of power he asked referring to the saffron partys tieup with the Congress and the NCP in 2019 which led to the formation of the MVA governmentShinde maintained he has done nothing unconstitutional or illegal by revolting against the Shiv Sena I just corrected what went wrong said the CM whose government is being supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPI will respond to the ideological bankruptcy through my work he saidIn a speech laced with Marathi couplets Shinde said his government will soon unveil a vision document for MaharashtraWhen Jayant Patil NCP asked him who had written these couplets the CM indicted they were written by him saying I have talent I was never allowed to showcase itShinde also justified his appeal to say Vande Mataram over the phone instead of hello a move which drew criticism from certain quartersFreedom fighters went to the gallows singing Vande Mataram Why should one have objection on being asked not to say hello while replying over the phone he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever