Shinde Confident Of Maharashtra Poll Win, Says Opposition ‘Lies’ Won’t Work This Time – News18

Last Updated:November 15, 2024, 00:01 IST

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Shinde said his government gave 10% reservation to Marathas but the opposition is attempting to have this overturned in court

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday exuded confidence that his alliance “Mahayuti” is headed for a big win in the Maharashtra Assembly election while blaming “lies” peddled by the opposition for the setback during Lok Sabha polls.

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Shinde said his government gave 10% reservation to Marathas but the opposition is attempting to have this overturned in court.

“They consistently spread lies during Lok Sabha. They misled people about the Constitution, but now people see the truth,” he said.

The MVA secured 31 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra while the NDA won only 17 seats.

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Shinde claimed that opposition leaders approached the court to stop his government’s “Ladki Bahin Yojana” under which eligible women receive Rs 1,500 per month in financial assistance. The Mayayuti has promised to increase this amount to Rs 2,100 once they return to power.

“They accused us of handing out freebies, yet they are now copying our initiatives. In many states, they have made promises for schemes that turned out to be empty. This behaviour is an insult to our Ladli Behens,” he said.

Shinde said he has visited many districts across Maharashtra and he is sensing a positive atmosphere everywhere for Mayayuti. “For me, ‘CM’ doesn’t just stand for Chief Minister; it stands for Common Man. I even met with people at 3 a.m. to better understand their issues,” he said.

The Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, are locked in a close fight for electoral supremacy in Maharashtra which will go to polls on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.

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Of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 149 candidates, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded 81 candidates, and deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded 59.

In the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has 95 candidates in the fray and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) has 86 candidates.

In some constituencies, there would be friendly fights between allies.