Aaditya Thackeray arrives to attend the Assembly session.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday challenged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to a one-hour debate in the Assembly on the state's urban development department.
Speaking to reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan, the Worli MLA said he would ask pointed questions and expected direct replies from Shinde, who is also the state's urban development minister. "He should debate with us for an hour on the working of the urban development department. I will ask pointed questions and he must give direct replies," said Aaditya.
"Even the chief minister must study and answer question raised by MLAs. If they (government) have the courage, then suspend us. They (Shinde-led Sena) were the ones who ran away to Surat (following the rebellion in the undivided Sena in June 2022)," said Aaditya.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) will continue to raise issues that concern Maharashtra and its citizens, he said while accusing the Shinde faction of being ungrateful "to the person who gave them tickets", a reference to former CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Speaking on recent incidents involving leaders from the Shinde faction, the Worli MLA said, "We all saw what the 'chaddi-baniyan gang' did. I made gestures in protest and even said they should take action against me. I have never seen an individual more shameless, ungrateful, or treacherous than the deputy chief minister."
Shinde, as urban development minister, was "merely acting" while responding to issues raised in the House.
"That is why we call him a traitor and ungrateful to his face. We never even took his name; all his talks are completely false," he said while claiming it was Uddhav Thackeray who gave Shinde recognition by handing him the UD department.
"Yet, what did he do in return? Betrayal. They don't even feel ashamed of accusing the very person who gave them everything," he said.
The Worli MLA further claimed Shinde, through his body language, showed lack of courage, adding "he spoke with his eyes down".
Aaditya also said the faction led by Shinde was not the Shiv Sena but the "Shah Sena", a reference to Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly supporting the deputy CM.