BJP president JP Nadda calls on Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde during Mumbai visit

Pic/CMO Maharashtra

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Wednesday called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter's official residence 'Varsha' in South Mumbai, reported news agency PTI.

Shinde's office described the meeting as a "courtesy visit", reported PTI.

The BJP president is on a two-day tour of Mumbai to interact with party workers from all the six Lok Sabha constituencies of the metropolis ahead of the parliamentary polls likely to be held in April-May.

Nadda, who is on Mumbai visit, was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar and the party's state unit head Chandrashekar Bawankule during his visit to Shinde's residence.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena, its then-ally, had won three seats each in Mumbai.

Out of the three MPs who won on united Shiv Sena's tickets in 2019, Rahul Shewale (Mumbai South Central) and Gajanan Kirtikar (Mumbai North West) are with the party faction led by Shinde. The third MP, Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), is with the Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by former CM Uddhav Thackeray.

The BJP is part of the Shinde-led government in the state.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda said the ensuing Lok Sabha elections will be a battle between dynastic politics and corruption on one side and development on the other, reported PTI.

Addressing party workers during hi Mumbai visit, Nadda said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India is well on its way to become the third largest economy in the world from fifth now.

Attacking anti-BJP opposition parties, he alleged that they were either dynastic or steeped in corruption.

"You have to reach out to voters and seek their support for a fresh mandate (for BJP at the Centre). First-time voters in the last ten years have seen only development and not corruption like previous governments," asserted the BJP president, referring to the decade-long rule of the Modi administration that started in 2014, reported PTI.

He said the Lok Sabha elections, likely to be held in April-May, will be a fight between dynastic politics and corruption on one side and development on the other, reported PTI.

Dynastic politics and corruption will lead to destruction, Nadda warned and highlighted the BJP's development agenda.

(With inputs from PTI)