Fadnavis to Uddhav Thackeray: Contest elections to change government, not agitate on streets

Rhetoric over "regime change" has intensified in Maharashtra politics. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had linked agitation with a change of power. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded in Nagpur, advising the Opposition that in a democracy the way to change a government is through elections, and that trying to change power through agitation on the streets is not the way.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said India functions according to the Constitution of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. According to him, anyone who wants to change power should win the people's support in an election.

Fadnavis said the democratic system and the Constitution are supreme in India. He referred to the political developments in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He said those who dream of changing the government in India in the same way will not see their designs fulfilled. The Chief Minister stressed that winning the people's trust is essential to gain power. In his words, elections are the only constitutional means of reaching power in a democracy.

Targeting Thackeray, the Chief Minister said that those who could not stop the changes in their own party are talking of regime change in the country. Fadnavis alleged that Thackeray had abandoned Hindutva and the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. He claimed this led to the dispute in the party, and that leaders who followed Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology broke away and formed the Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde.

In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar graduates' constituency, a rebel candidate from the Shinde Shiv Sena is in the fray against the official candidate of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. Fadnavis also responded to a question on this. He said Minister Sanjay Shirsat has made clear his support for the official candidate. According to Fadnavis, if some party leaders are taking a different stand, the leadership concerned should look into it.

Earlier, at about 9.30 am, Fadnavis reached the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters in Nagpur and met Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat. He left at about 11 am. Preparations for the Dussehra celebrations are under way at the Sangh headquarters. The meeting is being seen as an occasion for Navratri and Dussehra greetings and discussion of various subjects. Some political observers also view it in the context of the Legislative Council election, although according to sources it was a cordial meeting.