Thane:
Shiv Sena leader and Cabinet minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday said the party was working to increase its numbers in the next assembly elections to fulfil its ambition of seeing deputy chief minister
Eknath Shinde become Maharashtra’s chief minister once again.
“Shinde or his representative have consistently been at the forefront of relief efforts whenever people or farmers faced difficulties, including during natural calamities be it Kolhapur, Kerala or Kashmir. It is no surprise that the common man and every Shiv Sainik wants to see him as chief minister,” Sarnaik justified while addressing the Thane media.
“However, to become chief minister, one needs the numbers and we do not have it at present. We are nonetheless working hard to increase our strength in the next assembly elections so that we can fulfil our dream to see Shinde as chief minister,” he added.
Sarnaik also defended Shinde’s visit to actor
Tiger Shroff amid criticism over the leader’s remarks on responding to attackers in the same tone. He said Shinde had visited the actor as a matter of duty in the absence of the chief minister and wanted to ensure the film industry could flourish in a safe environment.
“Whoever is found guilty in any of the cases involving Shroff, Salman Khan or slain Thane UBT activist Pradeep Purnekar will not be spared by the state,” Sarnaik said.
Taking aim at the Opposition over its criticism of Shinde for not meeting the Purnekars, Sarnaik said the DCM was not in town when the incident occurred.
“The Opposition does not want to step onto the field but only wants to politicise the issue and target Shinde while sitting at home. I have never seen such narrow-mindedness in politics,” he said.
