Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde dubs Uddhav Thackeray as 'anti-development'

Pic/Eknath Shinde`s team

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former CM Uddhav Thackeray saying he is "anti-development", reported news agency PTI.

He (Uddhav Thackeray) was sitting at home for two-and-a-half years and did only show off, Eknath Shinde told reporters without taking his predecessor's name while replying to a question, reported PTI.

"But we are actually doing vikas (development) and cleaning up this city. He is anti-development and I do not wish to make any comment on their criticism (of the government)," the CM said after attending a deep cleaning drive in parts of south Mumbai, reported PTI.

"He opposed the (Metro) car shed at Aarey land in Mumbai, construction of Metro lines, and even tried to slow down construction of the Samruddhi highway (connecting Mumbai and Nagpur)," Eknath Shinde said, reported PTI.

Do they even have a moral right to point the finger at us, he said, reported PTI.

Thackeray formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in November 2019 after the state polls. In June 2022, a revolt led by Shinde against the Shiv Sena leadership resulted in the collapse of the Thackeray government, reported PTI.

On the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), CM Shinde said, "Modern technology has been used for the construction of the longest sea bridge in the country. The (quantity of) steel used for this bridge is four times of the Howrah bridge in Kolkata."

The MTHL, also known as Atal Setu named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, Shinde's office said on Saturday.

The bridge originates from Sewri in Mumbai and terminates at Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka of Raigad district. It is constructed at a cost of Rs 18,000 crore.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the longest sea bridge in the country, will bring development to Navi Mumbai and other areas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Saturday.

Shinde on Saturday visited the sea bridge in Navi Mumbai ahead of its inauguration by the prime minister, the CMO said in a release.

"This project would help cover the distance between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in just 20 minutes which otherwise takes 2 hours. This would provide a big relief to residents of Mumbai as they would be free of traffic snarls," the release quoted Shinde as saying.

As this bridge will connect Mumbai with the Mumbai-Goa Highway, Vasai and Virar, Navi Mumbai, and Raigad districts, various new projects and big companies would come to Navi Mumbai, ushering in development in the entire region, he said.

Shinde said the project has been completed without any environmental imbalance and the number of flamingo birds visiting the Sewri coast has risen.

(With inputs from PTI)