I’m Fadnavis’ well-wisher, will back him if he joins PM race: Uddhav Thackeray

NASHIK: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said he was a "well-wisher" of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and will support him if he becomes PM.Speaking to reporters in Shirdi on Monday, Uddhav said, "I am not an enemy of Fadnavis, but his well-wisher.

We will extend our support to Fadnavis if he becomes the Prime Minister.

He should first declare that he is in the race for the post."Thackeray said he prayed for protection of Fadnavis's chair during his visit to Shirdi temple. He claimed that discussions had begun within the

BJP

camp in Delhi over "who will be the Prime Minister after 2029", triggering internal competition. "Some feel Fadnavis could emerge in the race, so finish his chances now itself and keep him tied down so he does not reach Delhi," Thackeray said."What is wrong if a Marathi leader becomes Prime Minister? Shiv Sena (UBT) will stand with him if a leader from Maharashtra - not a traitor - becomes PM," he added.Thackeray has been touring the constituencies of the six MPs who recently joined the deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Sena. On Monday, he was in Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district, the constituency of MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure. Calling the recent defections an orchestrated move, Thackeray said the Shinde faction had increased its strength beyond the BJP in the state.

"In the last elections, we had nine MPs, BJP had nine, and the Shinde Sena had seven. By breaking our MPs, they have raised their numbers. Tomorrow, when the leadership question arises, they can say BJP got only nine under Fadnavis, while they have more," he claimed, adding that "Fadnavis's wings are being clipped", similar to what he alleged had happened to union minister Nitin Gadkari.Thackeray also targeted the ruling parties, alleging that while farmers were struggling with debt and unable to afford even basic resources, money was being used to engineer defections.Thackeray also attacked Wakchaure, calling him a "traitor" and accusing him of switching loyalties for personal gain. He claimed grassroots Shiv Sainiks had spent their own money to elect such leaders, only for them to defect. He further alleged underutilisation of development funds by the MP and said, "They have money to break MPs - this is the politics today."Striking an emotional note, Thackeray urged the party workers not to remain silent. "Don't live like hens in a cage. If not today, tomorrow will be ours," he said, expressing confidence of a political comeback. "We have three years - within that, our government can return," he added.