MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday cited his humble background to take a veiled swipe at Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray saying some people think they are born to rule but they should have felt proud that a common man has assumed the CM's chair.
He also said that his decision to rebel against the Sena leadership was "historic" and that his Hindutva will ensure "inclusive development".
"I did not come with a golden spoon. I am one among you. Some people think they are born to rule. They should have felt proud that a common man has assumed the chair. We have the majority numbers to rule."
We haven't done anything illegal," Shinde told a rally in temple town Pandharpur, where he performed 'mahapooja' at the famous Lord Vitthal temple on the occasion of 'Ashadhi Ekadashi' as part of a chief ministerial tradition.
Shinde, a resident of Thane, used to drive an autorickshaw to make a living.
He also took a veiled swipe at Uddhav Thackeray's supporters, some of whom had called out Shinde's "ingratitude" claiming that he betrayed the Shiv Sena despite being given all kinds of responsibilities by the party.
Shinde's rebellion along with 39 MLAs of Sena led to the collapse of the MVA government headed by Uddhav Thackeray last month.
Shinde took oath as the chief minister on June 30 with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as deputy chief minister.
He said his elevation from 'shakha pramukh' in the party to the top post in the state (Chief Minister) was possible because of the "blessings of (Thane Sena strongman and mentor) Anand Dighe and (Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray".
"I have withstood all efforts to hurt me politically. I don't wish to criticise anyone and make everything public," he said, adding that Bal Thackeray's Hindutva ideology was not about hating other religions.
He said MVA allies, a reference to NCP and Congress, had been hurting the Shiv Sena by strengthening their defeated candidates to unseat Sena legislators.
"Moreover, in the last two-and-half years, we could not speak against those who insulted (Hindutva ideologue) Veer Savarkar as well as against ministers who had links with (fugitive gangster) Dawood Ibrahim (an allegation against NCP's Nawab Malik who is currently in jail)," he said.
"I will speak less and work more. We are Balasaheb's and Anand Dighe's Shiv Sainiks. Our Hindutva is of inclusive development. I may be the chief minister but will work as a sevak (servant) and karyakarta (worker)," Shinde said.
Shinde also asked officials to follow the "Thane model" in the construction of police stations in the state.
The CM said lauded the Thane model, saying all facilities at the police stations are on par with corporate facilities.
These police stations have been constructed using government funds from various schemes.
"Even lockups are in good condition. One who comes to the police station should have confidence that he will get justice. Working conditions and atmosphere should be conducive. Even now, some of the police stations are in bad shape with leakages are damaging documents," the chief minister said.
He said police stations in Thane are constructed from construction TDR which should be replicated in the rest of Maharashtra.
"This is the government of the people. Files should not be caught in red tape," he said.
Maharashtra legislature secretary has issued show-cause notices to 53 out of the total 55 Shiv Sena MLAs in the state - 39 of the faction led by Eknath Shinde and 14 of the Uddhav Thackeray group.
One of the 14 MLAs from the Thackeray side, Santosh Bangar, joined the Shinde camp on the day of the floor test of the latter's government on July 4.
MLAs from both sides confirmed having received the showcase notice.
Both sides have accused each other of defying the party whip during the Speaker's election and the trust vote on July 3 and 4, respectively, seeking disqualification of the legislators from both the sides.
The Shinde faction has not included the name of Aaditya Thackeray, son of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in the list of MLAs against whom they have sought disqualification.
The notices have been issued under the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (disqualification on grounds of defection) rules.
The legislators have been asked to explain their stand within seven days, sources said.
The Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly, whose current strength is 287 due to the death of a Sena legislator.
In the trust vote, 164 MLAs voted for the motion of confidence, while 99 voted against it.
After winning the trust vote in the state Assembly on July 4, the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena had issued a notice to 14 legislators from the Uddhav Thackeray camp for violating a whip issued by the Sena whip and Shinde loyalist Bharat Gogawale.
A day before the floor test, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar had recognised Gogawale as the Shiv Sena's chief whip, removing Sunil Prabhu, who belongs to the Thackeray faction.
On July 3, Rahul Narvekar of the BJP was elected Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly.
He had polled 164 votes, and he defeated Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidate Rajan Salvi, who got 107 votes.