Lok Sabha elections 2024: No real issues to discuss so people are mudslinging, says Raj Thackeray

Raj Thackeray addressing the people. Pics/Sameer Markande

This is the first Lok Sabha election where I'm witnessing politicians targeting each other as there is no proper topic for discussion like before," MNS chief Raj Thackeray slammed political parties at a rally in Thane on Sunday. At the rally organised for Shiv Sena (Shinde) candidate of Kalyan Dr Shrikant Shinde and Thane candidate Naresh Mhaske, Raj slammed Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar.

Raj Thackeray addressing the people. Pics/Sameer Markande

"Now you are being accused of breaking your party. But you broke my party, you took my 6 corporators with the ‘khoka'," Raj said targeting Uddhav. "You come to power with parties who broke Shiv Sena in the past just because you wanted to be chief minister. You sit with Chhagan Bhujbal who arrests Balasaheb Thackeray. I never support party-breaking politics."

Raj also showed a video of Sena UBT leader Sushma Andhare mocking Balasaheb Thackeray. "The person who mocks Balasaheb is a leader of your party," he said. Taking on Sharad Pawar, he said that Pawar was the pioneer of the party-breaking politics in Maharashtra. "First he broke the Congress, then the Shiv Sena," he said.

Talking about "taxpayers", Raj said the Thane district is experiencing the highest migration in the country and in the world. "Until this migration doesn't stop, the development of the district cannot be done. Marathi people have first rights in Maharashtra. But lots of other people are also living here, who are taxpayers. They are also ours. But they should learn Marathi first," Raj said.

Raj further stated that Muslims are now issuing fatwas to vote for the Congress. He said this election is related to the development of the country as well as security. "Both these candidates should keep an eye on that when they are elected," he said.