"Shiv Sena (UBT) won only because of Congress' vote bank," says Eknath Shinde on LS results

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 19 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday addressed Shiv Sena's 58th Foundation Day event and said that in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) secured victory in the state because of Congress' vote bank.
"Shiv Sena UBT has won only on Congress' vote bank. They are not following the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray...," Shinde said.
Stepping up his attacks on Shiv Sena UBT, he said, "For votes, they disrespected the thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray, they stand with INDIA alliance today... They are now with Congress today but we are not like that and that's why, we separated from them and made the real Shiv Sena."
He added further, "People elected us because we are the real Shiv Sena. We separated with them two years ago and today, people believe in us..."
Expressing his confidence in winning more seats in the future, Shinde asserted, "We have to strengthen Mahayuti in Maharashtra for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. I assure you all that we will win more seats in upcoming elections."
In the Lok Sabha elections, Congress won 13 out of 48 seats while BJP secured nine seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) won nine seats while Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar - NCPSP won eight seats. On the other hand, Shiv Sena secured seven seats while NCP secured one seat.
Maharashtra witnessed the poll battle between the Shiv Sena-UBT (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction)-BJP alliance and the NCP (Ajit Pawar) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
Under the seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP contested in 28 constituencies, while its allies Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) fought in 14 constituencies and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in five constituencies.
On the other hand, Maha Vikas Aghadi members - Shiv Sena (UBT) contested in 21 constituencies, Congress in 17, and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) in 10 constituencies. (ANI)