Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray unveiled the party’s manifesto, termed Vachannama, for the Lok Sabha elections at a hastily arranged press conference at his Mumbai residence. The manifesto presented a wide array of promises aimed at tackling various issues from economic development to environmental preservation.
Thackeray committed to establishing Mumbai as the financial centre, reclaiming its prominence which, according to him, had been shifted to Gujarat. He emphasized the importance of generating employment opportunities for rural youth at the district level to curb migration from the state. The party pledged to waive farm loans and overhaul crop insurance conditions through the INDIA government. Additionally, they proposed making agricultural equipment and seeds exempt from GST, promising to amend the tax system to mitigate “tax terrorism.”
A significant proposal included the establishment of a new research wing within the agriculture department to provide farmers with expert advice on crop selection. Environmental conservation was highlighted as a priority, with a commitment to developing only eco-friendly projects and industries in Maharashtra. Furthermore, the party vowed to stabilize the prices of five essential commodities over the next five years.
Also read: High Court Denies Bail to Kashmiri Youth Accused of ISIS Support and Illegal Weapons Procurement
The manifesto’s release preceded the voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, wherein eight seats in Maharashtra were scheduled for polling the following day. These included constituencies in the west Vidarbha region and Marathwada. Maharashtra witnessed a remarkable political realignment in this election, with the opposition INDIA bloc comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP of Sharad Pawar facing off against the BJP-led NDA. The Election Commission recognized the factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as the authentic Shiv Sena and NCP, respectively, granting them the original symbols after a vertical split in their parties.
