Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde launched a veiled attack on rivals—Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray—and claimed that for the next 25 years, Mumbai citizens will witness a pothole-free city.

The Deputy Chief Minister slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav, allegedly for siding with contractors, and also criticized Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj for raking up the issue of Mumbai’s separation from Maharashtra—calling it an act of opportunism in the run-up to the polls.

Shinde said, “For us (Mahayuti government), ‘Mumbai first’ is the policy, but for some (Shiv Sena UBT), it was always a ‘contractor first’ policy.” The Deputy Chief Minister was replying on Thursday to queries raised by members of the Legislative Assembly through a debate held under Rule 293 of the Maharashtra Legislature, which allows deliberation on matters of public concern.