No development, voters insulted in state in past 5 years, says MNS chief

Pune: MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday criticised Maharashtra's major political parties for changing partners over the past five years just to be in govt and said they ditched voters by doing so. Raj held rallies in the city in support of his party's candidates, including Kishor Shinde in Kothrud seat and Ganesh Bhokare in Kasba Peth constituency, and lambasted both Mahayuti and MVA for the lack of development in the state. "BJP-Shiv Sena were together against Congress-NCP in 2019.

When poll results were out, first BJP took help from a group of NCP leaders to form govt. It did not last. Later, Eknath Shinde joined BJP, citing he could not share a cabinet (of ministers) with Ajit Pawar.



But later, he was happy to get Ajit Pawar in his govt and gave the latter the post of deputy chief minister. These parties insulted those who voted for them, thinking they would carry out development in five years," Raj said. The MNS chief also criticised the parties that remained in govt for many years but did not think of any planned development for big cities in Maharashtra.

"The elections have been fought in our country since 1952, but no party has given a thought towards planned development. The cities are growing without any town planning, leading to chaos. It is a shame that polls are still being fought on issues like roads, water supply, electricity and employment," he said.

Raj appealed to voters to take the assembly elections seriously and send a strong message to politicians that they should not take voters for granted. "Many voters are stuck to their caste and a political party. Therefore, they vote for a particular candidate.

They do not use their sensibility. The politicians have understood the pattern, and therefore, they make emotional appeals to voters. After elections, they change sides.

I appeal to voters to vote sensibly this time," he said..