Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addresses a public meeting in support of Shiv Sena candidate Yogesh Kadam ahead of the state Assembly elections, at Dapoli Assembly constituency in Ratnagiri district.
Credit: PTI Photo
Ratnagiri: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday claimed that industries migrated out of the state as the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government did not support them, but the situation has been reversed now.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Guhagar assembly constituency in this coastal district ahead of the November 20 state elections, Shinde also said that Maharashtra has regained its top position in the country and accounts for 52 per cent of the total Foreign Direct Investment flow.
"Industries left the state because of the Maha Vikas Aghadi as they did not get support (from the government) and we are being blamed for that. You (the MVA) show what you did in two-and-half years. I am ready to give an account of industries brought to the state and ones that are operational. Let people know the truth," he said.
The Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government brought in investments of Rs 5 lakh crore, Shinde claimed.
The Opposition has been alleging that some big-ticket investment projects were diverted to Gujarat from Maharashtra during the present regime.
On the controversial Barsu refinery project in the district, Shinde said it was the MVA government which gave the nod to it, but assured that it would not be implemented by using force or without the people's consent.
Uddhav Thackeray, his predecessor and former party head, gave up the ideals of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray for the chief minister's post, Shinde alleged.
"Eknath Shinde saved the Shiv Sena and its bow-and-arrow symbol. You sat next to those who abused Balasaheb," he added.
Shinde brought down the Thackeray government in June 2022 when he rebelled and split the Sena.
His government is one that gives and not a government that takes away, he said, adding that the manifesto of the ruling coalition was only a "trailer".
He was ready to go to jail for the schemes launched by him, Shinde said, in response to the Opposition's vow to conduct inquiry into his government's welfare programs The Mahayuti government will waive farm loans, recruit 25,000 women in the police department to fight crime against women and "those involved in crime against women will be hanged," the chief minister said.
As many as 25 lakh jobs will be created in the next five years, he assured.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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