Projects 'taken away' from Maharashtra helped Modi's BJP win Gujarat, says Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday (8) congratulated Indian prime minister Narendra Modi over his Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) emphatic victory in Gujarat elections while saying that projects "taken away" from the neighbouring state of Maharashtra contributed to the result.

The result in Gujarat was on expected lines and the election was once again fought under prime minister Narendra Modi's leadership which was the reason why people voted in large numbers, Thackeray, a former BJP ally and chief minister of Maharashtra, said in a statement in state capital Mumbai.

"I congratulate the BJP and PM Modi for the victory in Gujarat which is record-breaking and historic," he said.

He also took a jibe at the BJP government in New Delhi by saying that "the projects which were taken away to Gujarat from Maharashtra also helped in the victory."

The opposition parties in Maharashtra have been targeting the BJP over the state recently losing some big-ticket industrial projects to Gujarat.

The Aam Aadmi Party divided votes in Gujarat and it clearly benefited the BJP, the Sena leader further remarked.

Modi was visiting Maharashtra on December 11 and he was expected to make major announcements with an eye on the Mumbai civic polls, the Sena chief further said.