‘Why avoid debate?’: Milind Deora’s one-on-one challenge to Aaditya Thackeray | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Milind Deora, Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbai’s Worli seat, has slammed Aaditya Thackeray for ‘avoiding’ his challenge to debate the future of the Assembly constituency.
Ahead of the Maharashtra elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate and sitting Worli MLA Deora Thackeray had invited for an open debate on issues relating to Mumbai, Worli and Maharashtra.
Deora said Thakeray should not “avoid” debate during the elections if he claims to be pro-democracy.
“A few days ago, I invited Aaditya Thackeray to debate the future of Worli, the future of Mumbai and the future of Maharashtra. He claims to believe in democracy and strengthening it. Lok Sabha electionshe spoke about the importance of candidates debating. Why is he avoiding a debate in these elections? If he claims to be pro-democracy and pro-debates, why is he running away from that?,” Deora told news agency ANI.
The Shiv Sena candidate, who is fighting under the Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP and the NCP, accused Thackeray’s party of “handing out money in return for votes”.
‘We found that out yesterday, from him [Aaditya Thackeray’s] party distributed money and installed cameras in building societies to buy votes. One of his party leaders from Worli was caught on video admitting that he had provided these cameras to buy votes but refused to name the responsible leader citing the code of conduct,” Deora alleged.
The Maharashtra Assembly Elections will take place on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23.
In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56 and Congress 44. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the MVA performed strongly, winning 30 of the 48 seats, while the Mahayuti won 17.