States » WestPosted at: Nov 15 2026 1:22PM


Aaditya Thackeray backs Rahul Gandhi’s phone-tapping claims, accuses BJP of divisive politics and misgovernance

Mumbai, Nov 15 (UNI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of phone tapping, accusing the BJP-led government of misusing state machinery against political opponents and journalists while neglecting pressing issues facing Maharashtra.
"The machinery currently being deployed against political opponents and journalists would serve the government and the nation far better if it were used to track terrorists and criminals," he said, recalling similar instances of surveillance in Maharashtra, where Congress leader Nana Patole had earlier read out the names of alleged targets on the floor of the State Assembly.
Taking a swipe at the ruling dispensation over its political activities, Thackeray challenged the BJP to focus on governance rather than engineering political defections and launching operations such as 'Operation Tiger'.
He highlighted concerns over water scarcity, rising pollution and the shifting of industries out of Maharashtra, alleging that the government is failing to address the state's economic and environmental challenges.
"Stop breaking parties and felling trees, and actually get some work done," he said, accusing the BJP of pushing the privatisation of public assets. He also alleged that government assets would eventually be handed over to industrialist Gautam Adani.
Thackeray further accused the ruling party of deliberately creating social divisions in Mumbai to divert public attention from issues such as inflation and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Clarifying that there was no genuine dispute over Chhath Puja, he alleged that attempts are being made to create tensions between communities and fuel a Marathi versus non-Marathi divide for political gains.
On speculation about a possible merger involving the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Thackeray dismissed the reports as BJP-sponsored propaganda. He said Sharad Pawar's party had made no such announcement and questioned the repeated doubts being raised over its political position.
The Sena (UBT) leader also demanded that the Women's Reservation Bill be implemented by 2029 without linking it to the delimitation exercise. He alleged that the BJP is not genuinely interested in ensuring greater political representation for women.
Commenting on differences within the ruling alliance, Thackeray claimed that leaders who had joined Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are now feeling sidelined by the BJP. He alleged that some of them are attempting to establish contact with Uddhav Thackeray to regain their political relevance.
He said the opposition should not waste time on such political manoeuvres when Maharashtra is facing serious administrative, economic and environmental challenges.
Questioning the absence of the union Environment Minister amid deteriorating air quality and water scarcity, Thackeray also criticised what he described as excessive centralisation of decision-making.
Taking a final dig at the government, he said that after interfering in the Gokul milk union, the ruling establishment might soon begin appointing even school class monitors from Delhi.
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Tags: #Aaditya Thackeray backs Rahul Gandhi’s phone-tapping claims# accuses BJP of divisive politics and misgovernance
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