Raj Thackeray urged voters not to leave their most powerful weapon — their vote — unused during the election. (PTI)
The MNS chief criticised the ruling political parties for failing to deliver genuine progress and urged citizens not to be complacent in the upcoming elections
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, in a fiery address on the occasion of Dussehra, urged voters to seize the upcoming elections as an opportunity to take control of their future.
Referring to the festive occasion as a momentous time for political change, Thackeray made a direct appeal to the people of Maharashtra to “remove the weapons from the Shami tree”, a symbolic reference to being ready for battle, and take their revenge against the political class that has, according to him, taken them for granted for years.
Thackeray, interacting with the people through a podcast, said: “Today is Dussehra, one of the most auspicious days of the year. I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you. On this day, we traditionally exchange the leaves of the Shami tree as a symbol of gold, but for years, Maharashtra’s true wealth has been looted while we pass these leaves among ourselves. It’s time for action.”
He criticised the ruling political parties for failing to deliver genuine progress and urged citizens not to be complacent in the upcoming elections. “Building roads and flyovers is not real progress. Having mobile phones and gadgets doesn’t equate to development. True progress lies in the upliftment of society as a whole. Yet, even after so many years, we are still groping in the dark, trapped by the false promises of the political class.”
In a direct appeal to voters, Thackeray reminded them of their powerful role in democracy. He used the metaphor of the Pandavas from Indian mythology who had kept their weapons hidden on the Shami tree. Thackeray urged voters not to leave their most powerful weapon — their vote — unused during the election.
“You often leave your vote unused, then spend the next five years regretting the decisions made by these same politicians. This time, use your vote as your weapon. Do not fall into the trap of caste, community, or familiarity.”
Thackeray did not shy away from expressing his disappointment with the electorate for repeatedly electing the same representatives who, in his opinion, have betrayed the state of Maharashtra. He also criticised political parties for forming opportunistic alliances and forgetting the real issues. “These leaders keep forming strange alliances, but where do you stand in all of this? You are nowhere to be found in their plans,” he warned.
With the elections around the corner, Thackeray passionately appealed to voters to ensure that their vote would spark a revolution. He asked the people of Maharashtra, especially the youth and farmers, to awaken and reclaim their rights.
“This is the time for revolution. It’s time to avenge the betrayal of your votes. For years, your votes have been taken for granted, and the result has been Maharashtra’s decline. The upcoming election is your opportunity to change that,” Thackeray said, concluding his address by asking for the chance to fulfill his vision of a prosperous Maharashtra admired by the world.
