Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the ‘INDIA’ alliance, emphasized that the opposition’s fight is not against the Prime Minister but rather a battle to protect democracy from turning into a dictatorship. He highlighted that the alliance has expanded from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) experiment in Maharashtra to a larger unity of several parties, with the Congress being the prominent force among them.
According to Thackeray, the main objective of this alliance is to safeguard the principles of democracy and independence of all institutions. The focus is on unity among the opposition parties and a collective goal to preserve the country’s democracy and independence, without projecting any particular leader as the face of the movement.
He noted that all opposition leaders are grounded and not driven by a desire for leadership, but rather they are concerned about the future of the country. Thackeray compared the unpredictable rise of leaders like P. V. Narasimha Rao and the defeat of prominent leaders like Indira Gandhi in the past to highlight that leadership positions can emerge suddenly.
Regarding his interactions with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Thackeray expressed positive sentiments, stating that he found Rahul Gandhi to be sensible, attentive, and willing to listen and express his opinions on various issues. Thackeray dropped hints about Rahul Gandhi’s potential role in the future.
While Thackeray stated that he is not worried about the BJP, he expressed concerns about certain practices the party has adopted, which he believes could be harmful to the country, such as the idea that “whoever you vote for, the government will be mine.”
He cautioned that such practices might lead to difficult situations, and he called upon the ‘INDIA’ alliance to launch the “war of 2024” after the national opposition conclave in Bengaluru, aiming to safeguard the nation.
These remarks were made by Uddhav Thackeray during a recent interview on his 63rd birthday with the Saamana Group, where he responded to questions from the Executive Editor and MP Sanjay Raut. These statements have garnered attention and some criticism from the ruling BJP’s top leaders.