Mumbai needs stable government; should not be allowed to get ruined like Kolkata, says PM Modi

Mumbai, the economic capital of the country, needs to grow strongly with a stable government and should not be allowed to get ruined like Kolkata, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent interview.

While speaking in an interview with News 18 editors on Sunday, Modi said that Kolkata was once leading but was ruined by politics.

“Bengal has been ruined, Kolkata was once leading the economic growth, but is ruined by politics. Maharashtra should not be allowed to go down that route. Mumbai is the economic capital of the country. We should move ahead strongly in Maharashtra for the benefit of the country. We are conveying this sentiment to the people of Maharashtra, we are convincing them and the people of Maharashtra are giving us a very positive response,” the PM said.

Hitting out at Maharashtra’s coalition government, Modi said the state has seen coalition governments for a considerable time now, and no Chief Minister has been able to serve the five-year term.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh too were reduced to unstable conditions earlier, he added.

“There was Vilasrao Deshmukh…Even when Sharad Pawar became the Chief Minister, he was not able to do so alone with absolute majority. Secondly, it has been Maharashtra’s misfortune that for some time now, no CM has been able to serve the five-year term. Devendra Fadnavis was the first person after a long time who served the entire term. The government then was clean and spotless. It was a government that worked for the welfare of the people,” he said.

Vilasrao Deshmukh served as the CM of Maharashtra from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2008 in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party as Sharad Pawar’s NCP did not get a majority in the state assembly.

The PM further highlighted the difference between the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, which broke an alliance in the state. "Those who fought elections with us, those who asked for votes from the people of Maharashtra with us, developed an ego due to their personal ambition of becoming the chief minister. Because of his ego and ambition, you (Uddhav Thackeray) betrayed this partnership that dated back to the days of Balasaheb Thackeray. People are angry about it and there is sympathy for BJP because of this,” he said.

Modi said that the party (BJP) has sacrificed for Maharashtra. “Some people thought that we wanted the CM’s seat. No. We could have taken the CM’s seat, but didn’t. We convinced the people of Maharashtra that we live for Maharashtra, not for ourselves. And in this election, this sympathy is in our favour that such a big party, with a chief minister who has been successful is now a deputy chief minister, has sort of put its self-respect on the backburner for the bright future of Maharashtra,” he added.

PM Modi while speaking about the tussle in parties like Shiv Sena and NCP said, “Secondly, the storms that erupted within the Shiv Sena or the NCP clearly show what happens when you give importance to only your family members over other leaders, it leads to difficulties. The trouble in Sharad Pawar’s house is their family dispute. Should the daughter get the reins or the nephew? Similar is the tussle in Shiv Sena like the Congress – should a deserving leader be promoted or the son?”

The Bhartiya Janata Party severed ties with its ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra as the latter refused to support the BJP to form the government.

“These are their disputes. I believe our country hates such dynasty politics. If someone tries to use the word ‘sympathy’ to evoke sympathy among people, I say even that attempt will fail. People hate such things. They cannot accept such things. These are your family disputes, resolve them within your home. Why are you ruining the state of Maharashtra over this?” said Modi.