Uddhav Thackeray dares BJP to face midterm polls, questions lathicharge on women students at Banaras Hindu University

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday dared ally BJP to resign from the Maharashtra government and face midterm polls. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his campaign for upcoming Gujarat assembly polls.

"I challenge you (the BJP) to resign from the government and face polls once again. We will show you the might of the Shiv Sena. Even during the (Modi) wave, BJP got votes in the name of Sena," said Thackeray while addressing a local poll rally in Nanded.

Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation (NWMC) polls are scheduled for October 11.

Taking jibe at PM Modi, Thackeray said people were forwarding a joke on social media that the Prime Minister of India 'may visit India soon', seemingly referring to Modi's frequent foreign tours.

"I was watching news on television. Saw the PM campaigning for Gujarat polls that are two months away. How did he suddenly remember his school today after being in power for three years? Did he not feel like visiting his school ever before? Why just before the polls?" questioned Thackeray.

Modi on Sunday visited his birth place Vadnagar in north Gujarat first time since he became the Prime Minister.

Thackeray further said his father late Bal Thackeray taught him to never tell a lie to people or wear a "mask" (being a hypocrite) and that he has been following it.

"You (the PM) are making an announcement that you have given a Diwali gift to the people by slashing GST rates. Come here to Nanded and visit the homes of farmers. You will know if it is Diwali or 'Diwala' (poverty) for them," he said.

"Farmers are burdened with debts. Now, like development, even electricity is nowhere to be seen due to a shortage of coal," quipped the Shiv Sena supremo.

He also asked how many rich people stood in the queues after demonetisation. "Lakhs of people lost their jobs but terrorism did not cease. Farmers lost their money kept in cooperative banks," he said.

Thackeray asked the crowd if they would vote for a party that "ordered" lathicharge on women students in Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh a state ruled by the BJP when they complained against eve teasing.

He further said that in Bihar people voted for Nitish Kumar for development despite Modi's financial package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state. "What Nitish Kumar later did is another issue."

Taking a dig at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said that while he may speak of "invisible hands" supporting the BJP, the Sena voices its criticism openly.

"We do not know how to hide and work. We openly criticize if something is wrong. Sharad Pawar's NCP may continue to remain the invisible hands supporting you," he said.

He added that Fadnavis, during the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation polls, had promised a huge financial package but nobody knew what happened to his promise.