Key Points

He said the "Thackeray brothers' brand" has collapsed in Maharashtra, and their coming together will not significantly impact the upcoming BMC elections.

Athawale's remarks came after the defeat of the Thackeray brothers in the BEST Employees' Co-operative Credit Society elections.

In a conversation with IANS, Athawale drew a comparison to the late Balasaheb Thackeray, stating that while his rallies used to draw huge crowds, the votes didn't necessarily follow. He said Raj Thackeray faces a similar situation today.

He claimed that the "Thackeray brand" will no longer be influential in the BMC elections and asserted that the Mahayuti alliance will win.

Athawale also expressed concern over Raj Thackeray's recent meetings with BJP leaders. According to him, including Raj in the Mahayuti could prove detrimental, especially due to the potential split of Marathi and non-Marathi votes. He pointed out that Mahayuti suffered losses in the Lok Sabha elections with Raj's support, but gained in the Assembly elections when he wasn't involved.

He reiterated that the Thackeray brand is no longer effective in Mumbai.

On NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's allegations against the Election Commission, Athawale said Pawar is an experienced leader who has served as both Chief Minister and Union Minister. If he has proof of voter fraud, he should submit it to the Election Commission. Merely making public statements won't help, he added. He also said Rahul Gandhi should directly address the issue with the Election Commission.

"Voter fraud is unacceptable, and every citizen has the right to vote. That right should not be taken away, but fake voting must not be allowed under any circumstances," Athawale said.

Regarding the FIR filed against Tejashwi Yadav, Athawale commented that making personal remarks is inappropriate. Referring to the Constitution, he said action should be taken against such speeches as per legal provisions.

On the upcoming India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, Athawale said it should not be linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people were killed. He noted that India had already given a strong response through "Operation Sindoor." "Our brave soldiers have taught Pakistan a lesson," he said.

He emphasised that politics should not be mixed with sports and expressed confidence that the Indian cricket team would give a fitting reply by defeating Pakistan in the match.

Highlighting the need for pothole-free roads in Mumbai, Athawale noted that potholes become a serious issue during the monsoon season and need to be addressed urgently. He cited an incident where a person died due to potholes and said there should be fast-paced work to make the city's roads pothole-free.

- IANS