BMC Elections: Nadda Slams MVA, Says Uddhav-Led Govt 'Stalled' Development Works

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda on Wednesday dubbed the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray "totally corrupt" which he said paused all the good works. He appealed to the party cadres to ensure that the next mayor of Mumbai is from the BJP. Addressing a function here organised by the BJP and attended by beneficiaries of various government schemes, Nadda claimed the US, China and Japan are facing an economic crisis now as they spent money on providing freebies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While the Indian government came up with a Rs 20 lakh crore package during that period to boost infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors," he said.

Nadda alleged there was rampant corruption in the so-called Maha Vikas Aghadi government from top to bottom.

"All the development works had come to a standstill. That government used to block all works of development and infrastructure development," he alleged.

He said this scenario has changed as the double-engine government of the NDA under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking care of the people of Maharashtra and fulfilling all their aspirations and wishes.

आज विले पार्ले पश्चिम, मुंबई में आयोजित 'मुंबई मोर्चा अघाड़ी' की बैठक को संबोधित किया।

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में भाजपा अमृतकाल में अपने जनसेवा और 'पंच प्रण' के संकल्प से विकसित भारत निर्माण के लिए समर्पित है। pic.twitter.com/QZOCMRBnwg — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) May 17, 2023

The Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government is addressing the issues of the people, he said.

"Through the Direct Benefit Transfer, the Modi government has so far transferred over Rs 25 lakh crore directly into bank accounts of intended beneficiaries, that too by getting rid of middlemen. The money from the government treasury is directly going into bank accounts of beneficiaries of various schemes," Nadda added.

He claimed the Communist Party of China has some nine crore members whereas the BJP has 18 crore registered members and party workers. "We are the largest political party in the world," he added.

Later, addressing the party functionaries at a meeting, Nadda said, "We all need to work in such a way that the next mayor of Mumbai city will be from BJP".

Pointing at the attendees, he said, "With your strength, we need not have to think twice about this resolution (installing mayor of BJP)".

Nadda advised BJP workers to develop skills of listening to the people.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come up with various skill development courses for people. Our party workers should develop some skills as well including the ability to listen to the people," he said.

The BJP chief is on a two-day visit to Maharashtra beginning Wednesday during which he will meet state BJP leaders.

He met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence 'Varsha'.

Speaking on Nadda's visit, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed wherever Nadda goes, the BJP loses.

"Nadda stayed put in Karnataka to campaign for his party, but it was defeated. Now he is coming to Maharashtra. We welcome him. Wherever he goes, BJP loses," he told reporters in Nashik.

However, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane hit back at Raut, accusing him of targeting individuals on constitutional posts and inciting the administration against the government.

"All these are signs of an urban Naxal," Rane claimed.

Nadda's comments on the next mayor of Mumbai are likely to ruffle the feathers of estranged ally-turned-foe Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), which has ruled the Mumbai civic body for over two decades as Shiv Sena (undivided) till March 2022, and considers Mumbai as its citadel.

The last mayor of Mumbai before the five-year term of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ended in March 2022 was Kishori Pednekar, who belongs to Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. The state government appointed the administrator in the BMC as elections could not be held before the expiry of the five-year term.

In the 2017 BMC elections, the BJP made giant strides by winning 82 of 227 seats, just two seats behind the Shiv Sena (undivided).