Uddhav Thackeray Insists On Chief Ministerial Face First; Criticizes Modi Over Secular Civil Code

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray emphasized the need for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to decide its chief ministerial candidate before the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for a secular civil code and questioned the government's intentions behind recent bills. Thackeray also urged MVA members to prioritize Maharashtra's self-respect and unity.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday emphasized the necessity for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to first decide on its chief ministerial candidate before going by which party wins the most seats. Thackeray assured support for any candidate announced by the Congress and NCP (SP).

His ally, Sharad Pawar, head of NCP(SP), avoided the topic but stressed the importance of a unified agenda to change the Maharashtra government for state improvement. Pawar mentioned respect for other parties and the importance of presenting a united front. The Congress also focused on the goal of unseating the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition.

Addressing MVA workers, Thackeray claimed the upcoming assembly elections were about preserving Maharashtra's self-respect. He criticized Prime Minister Modi's push for a secular civil code and raised questions about the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Thackeray called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe land deals in Ayodhya and dared the Election Commission to announce the Maharashtra election schedule.

(With inputs from agencies.)