Uddhav leader of ‘Aurangzeb fan club’, Sharad Pawar ’ringleader’ of corruption: Amit Shah tears into MVA

India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a full-blown attack on the Maharashtra opposition coalition, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and its prominent leaders. Shah called former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray part of the 'Aurangzeb fan club' and while referring to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, Sharad Pawar termed him as the 'ringleader' of corruption in the country.

Shah was speaking at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) convention event in the western city of Pune where he criticised Thackeray for forging alliance with leaders that supported terrorists and divisive forces.

"Who are part of the Aurangzeb fan club? Those who serve biryani to Kasab (26/11 terrorist), those who seek clemency for Yakub Memon, those who give (controversial Islamic preacher) Zakir Naik a messenger of peace award and those who support the (banned Islamist outfit) PFI. Uddhav Thackeray should be ashamed of sitting with these people," Shah said.

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As for Pawar, the BJP leader did not hold back any punches and called him the face of corruption whilst asserting that BJP-led coalition will win big in the assembly elections.

"They want to win elections by spreading misconceptions. They talk about corruption, but the biggest ringleader of corruption in Indian politics is Sharad Pawar and I have no confusion when I say this. Sharad Pawar institutionalised corruption in many governments of this country," the senior BJP leader said.

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NCP hits back

After the scathing attack by Shah, NCP hit back at the BJP by claiming that the saffron party legitimised corruption.

"They accuse political leaders of corruption, and then once those who they accuse join BJP, they are all given a clean chit. This is the BJP's washing machine process of legitimising corruption," NCPnational spokesperson Clyde Crasto stated.

Maharashtra goes to polls later this year to elect 288 members of the state's legislative assembly. While the Election Commission is yet to release the dates, it is expected that the ballots will be cast in or before October.

After Uddhav resigned as the CM in 2022, the state assembly is now led by CM Eknath Shinde with Devendra Fadnavis serving as the deputy CM. Meanwhile, Uddhav's Shiv Sena faction has forged an alliance with NCP and the Indian National Congress.

(With inputs from agencies)