Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray broached the subject of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections during a gathering in East Mumbai’s Kurla on Monday, emphasizing the imminent threat of dictatorship encroaching upon the nation. Expressing concern for the challenging times the country is undergoing, Thackeray highlighted the crucial need to safeguard India's freedom, asserting that the present moment requires concerted efforts to prevent the establishment of a dictatorship.
In his address, Uddhav Thackeray remarked, "The country is going through a tough time. Who will save the country? If we make a mistake this time, there will be dictatorship in the country." Stressing the ongoing necessity for freedom, he invoked the historical struggle for independence, suggesting that the contemporary challenge involves defending and preserving hard-fought freedom. Thackeray pledged to contribute in every possible way to counter the prevailing atmosphere of confusion and prevent the encroachment of dictatorship.
Speaking at an event organized by the Jain community, Thackeray appealed to the public to exercise prudence in the forthcoming general elections. Seeking blessings from Jain seers, he stated, "I have come here to seek blessings from you. Not for any personal gain. I have the blessings of my parents and I want to make them proud. I have come here to seek your blessings for the country."
The Shiv Sena (UBT), a faction that emerged after the split within the Shiv Sena last year, is aligned with the opposition INDIA bloc alliance, which was established to counterbalance the influence of the BJP in the 2024 elections. Following the 2019 Maharashtra polls, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena terminated its alliance with the BJP and formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government by collaborating with the NCP and the Congress.
This recent discourse by Uddhav Thackeray underscores the high stakes and the overarching theme of safeguarding democratic principles as the political landscape unfolds toward the upcoming elections.
