Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday released his party’s manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, outlining key promises that include free education for male students, the scrapping of the Dharavi redevelopment project, and stabilising prices of essential goods.
Speaking at his residence, Matoshree, Thackeray said that most of the party’s promises align with those of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). However, he noted that certain issues, such as the proposed housing and job creation plans, required special attention.
Thackeray said the MVA’s manifesto would be launched shortly, ahead of the November 20 state assembly polls.
Among the key promises, Thackeray said that every district in Maharashtra would have a temple dedicated to Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also pledged to implement the Old Pension Scheme, remove the 50% cap on reservations, and expand free education to male students, similar to the program for female students currently in place.
The manifesto also includes provisions for free travel for women on public buses, recruitment of 18,000 women into the state’s police force, and the establishment of female-only police stations across Maharashtra.
Thackeray also stressed on the need to stabilize the prices of essential commodities and reiterated his stance against the Dharavi redevelopment project, which he said would have adverse effects on Mumbai. He also called for a new housing policy aimed at addressing the challenges of rapid urbanisation, with a focus on affordable housing for local residents in both urban and rural areas.
Thackeray also announced plans to scrap the proposed cluster development of Koliwadas (fishing communities) and Gaothans (villages), pledging that any development would be carried out with the consent of local residents.
On employment, Thackeray promised to hold job fairs in each district every three months to generate job opportunities for the state’s youth. He also said that the MVA would establish an International Finance Centre in Maharashtra if it came to power.