Maharashtra CM calls on other states to unite to oppose Centre's muzzling

Mumbai: Expressing his willingness to join with other political parties for the larger national interest, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray said the policies that are followed by the Centre are detrimental to the country and democracy.

The BJP led Central government is trying to muzzle its power on states, which shows the degradation of politics, he said.

The Chief Minister was in talks with the Loksatta editor Girish Kuber, a Marathi daily of The Indian Express group, on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of Loksatta.

It was under the coalition governments that the country saw progress and the present BJP government, rather than utilising the fundamentals for the further development, is squandering the opportunity, Thackeray said.

The state governments should unite to oppose the Centre's attempt to muzzle its power on the state government, the CM said adding that the Maharashtra government is ready to cooperate with other state governments to build an opposition front.

He also indirectly ruled out the possibility of a reunion with the BJP. "Are they going to improve their behaviour? In the early days, our alliance was based on ideology. But now, we don't know where that ideology has gone. We have followed in their footsteps in forging alliances," said Thackeray.