Slams Opposition criticism

In a robust defense of the ‘Ladaki Bahin Yojana’, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addressed supporters at the opening of MLA Vishwanath Bhoir’s election campaign office in Kalyan. Shinde criticized the Mahavikas Aghadi coalition for attempting to challenge the scheme in court, emphasizing that the court had dismissed their efforts to shut it down. He alleged that leaders of the coalition threatened to jail officials connected to the program, declaring, "We are ready to go to jail once or even ten times to uphold the beloved Ladaki Bahin Yojana."

In a spirited speech, Shinde described the opposition as "evil stepbrothers," urging supporters to "show them their place" in the upcoming elections. He likened the campaign to an explosive Diwali celebration, suggesting that the election battle would be intense. “Diwali crackers are bursting everywhere, and in this election, we want to burst atom bombs,” he said, underscoring the campaign’s aggressive momentum.

Shinde also challenged the Mahavikas Aghadi to justify their own performance during their two-and-a-half years in power. He stated, "What did your coalition government accomplish? Our government is a ‘Dena Bank,’ not a ‘Lena Bank,’” underscoring his administration’s commitment to serving the public. Additionally, he criticized the previous administration for corruption, which he said had led to the imprisonment of several ministers and officials, in contrast to his government’s focus on delivering benefits to citizens.

The inauguration event was attended by leaders from Shiv Sena, BJP, NCP, Ripai Mahayuti, and drew hundreds of supporters, including thousands of women.