Rajnath Singh slams Uddhav Thackeray for 'setting aside principles for power'

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during an election rally in Maharashtra's Pune that as Congress was part of the alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP), these parties would also "certainly drown".

In Short

• Rajnath Singh 'pained' over Uddhav Thackeray's alliance with Congress
• Claims parties aligning with the Congress are 'bound to drown'
• Urges for people to stay together, reiterates Yogi Adityanath's statement

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday expressed his disappointment with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of compromising his principles for political power.

Addressing an election rally in Pune ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra polls, Singh said, "I have great respect for the late Balasaheb Thackeray. But the way Uddhav ji has put principles aside for power has pained me a lot. Forming a government is not a big deal. A true leader is one who does not waver from principles in times of adversity".

The senior BJP leader's remarks came over Uddhav Thackeray's alliance with Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) for the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.

Furthermore, Rajnath Singh stressed the importance of unity and development, urging citizens to prioritise national integration. "Always remember, you neither have to divide nor allow division. The entire country has to stay united. If we avoid division, we will move towards development and create a developed nation and a developed Maharashtra," he said.

The Defence Minister also launched a scathing attack on Congress and said that any party forming an alliance with the grand old party is "bound to drown".

"Congress ruled the country for a long time, but now its condition has become so precarious that anyone associated with it is bound to drown. In Maharashtra, Congress has piggy-backed on Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), and their drowning is certain," Singh said.

The minister reiterated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's statement "Batenge toh Katenge" (we will perish if we are divided) and said, "Always remember one thing, you neither have to divide nor divide others, the entire country has to stay together. We have to stay united. If we avoid division, we will move towards development and create a developed nation and a developed Maharashtra".