Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a no-holds-barred interview, has ruled out any “offer” or alliance with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and said “the present combination will continue. There will be no change.”

He was replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in ‘Aap Ki Adalat‘ show, telecast on August 2 and 3 on India TV, a press release from the news channel stated.

Fadnavis said: “First of all, let me say, (Eknath) Shindeji is not unhappy, and our government will run with full strength and coordination for five years. As far as Uddhav ji is concerned, I had jokingly told him in the Assembly, ‘agar idhar aana hai, toh vichar karengey aapke oopar. Aisa maine mazaaq me keh diya, Koi Offer Nahin Thi. Maine mazaaq me keh diya toh uski news ban gayi. Abhi offer dene ka koi sawal nahi. Hamare paas jagah nahin hain’. In a 288-member assembly, we have 232 members with us. There is no space left for others.”

Sharma: If there is no space, what were you talking with him in a closed room for 20 minutes?

Fadnavis : We were discussing in an open room with open heart (Khule Kamre Me Khule Dil Se Baat Ho Rahi Thi). He had come with a delegation…They wanted that Leader of Opposition post be given to them despite having less than required number…..First, Uddhav Ji and Aaditya came, then they called others. We sat for 15-20 minutes. I had tea, Aaditya had coffee, he (Uddhav) didn’t drink. And they left.

Fadnavis added:  I have good relations with all, but this does not mean that we will change parties. Yahi Chalega. Yahi Combination Chalega. There will be no change.

Sharma: Then, won’t Shinde Ji have a stomach ache and go to Thane for treatment?

Fadnavis: There are good hospitals in Mumbai and nowadays he has no stomach ache.

Sharma: Do you think Uddhav Thackeray will come out of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi?

Fadnavis: He can do anything. He can come out. Uddhav Ji is a man about whom none can say what he will decide. Sometimes I feel, even he himself cannot tell what he will do. He takes decisions suddenly. I think, he will stay there for now, but I can’t say this with full confidence, because he takes his own decisions.

Sharma: You mean to say, there is not going to be any upheaval or storm in Maharashtra politics in coming days?

Fadnavis: “Nahin, Abhi Toh Mujhe Dikhai Nahin Padta. Saare Toofan Hamne Rok Diye. “

When Sharma asked whether Chacha (or uncle Sharad Pawar) and Bhatija (nephew or Ajit Pawar) come together again, Fadnavis replied: ” Only Chacha and Bhatija can say about this. Begaani Shaadi Me Abdullah Diwana Kyun Banu Main? Woh Toh Woh Hi Batayenge”.

Asked how he stole Bhatija from Chacha when he formed a government for 80 hours, Fadnavis replied: “We formed that 80 hours government after speaking to Chacha Sharad Pawar Ji. When we realized that Uddhav Thackeray Ji stabbed us in the back after the elections, Chacha Ji sent envoys to us. We thought, since we were being made a target of dirty politics, we need to stay alive. We spoke to Chacha Ji and everything was decided with his concurrence.

“Pata Nahin Chacha Ji Kyun Palat Gaye. Chacha Ji Palatey, Lekin Bhatije Ji Nahin Palte. Bhatije Ne Kaha ki Chacha Ji Palat Gaye, Lekin Main Aapke Saath Hoon, Toh Bhatije Hamare Saath Aa gaye, toh Hum Logon Ne Shapath Le Li. But after 80 hours, we resigned.”

Asked why he inducted Ajit Pawar, when Prime Minister Modi had publicly told a rally that he was involved in Rs 70 lakh crore scam, Fadnavis replied: “We never wanted an alliance with NCP. Our ideology is different, but in politics, time comes when one has to stay relevant…When Uddhav Ji cheated us, we decided to make compromise to stay relevant.

“Let me tell you, we compromised to form governmentm but we did not ditch our ideology.  We shall continue to run our government on ideology. In war, if you do not stay relevant, you will be finished, and you can sit and watch silently. I had said, we will not ally with NCP, but we had to change our stand.”

Sharma: It’s good you gave a clear reply, but how can you ally with those who are facing ED, CBI, Income Tax probes?

Fadnavis: Not a single inquiry has been stopped. Properties of those who joined us were attached. In Modiji’s government, we don’t spare brothers or enemies. ..It was a political compromise, and those inquiries are still going on today… Nobody can do a deal with a person like Modi Ji. Modi Ji is not that kind of person. Ajit Pawar Ji joined our camp unconditionally, and there will be no interference in judicial process.  Judicial process will continue.

Sharma : Then people will say BJP is a washing machine and anybody can come out clean?

Fadnavis: Uska Ulta Bhi Ho Sakta Hai (the reverse can also happen). When those people are in their camp, they are nice, and when they join us, they say, Washing Machine Mein Chala Gaya.  When they were with you, they were nice, Aap Uske Chumme (kiss) Bhi Lete They, Usko Gale Lagate They, and Hamare Paas Aaya, Toh Kahte Hain, Washing Machine Hai.  You can see it both ways. Par Hum Kiski Dhoyenge Nahin, Aur Dhoyengey Toh Theek Dhang Se Dhoyenge. (We will not wash anybody clean, and if we indeed wash, we will wash clean).

On Uddhav Thackeray’s advice to his partymen not to even attend weddings of BJP leaders nor invite them to their weddings, because they can run away with the bride, Fadnavis replied: “The problem with him is that whosoever’s wedding he attends, he thinks he is the Dulha (bridegroom) and he should be paid more attention that what the bridegroom gets.

“Uddhav Ji’s party was first split by Sharad Pawar Ji in 1992, when Balasaheb Thackeray was alive and 13 leaders with Chhagan Bhujbal left Shiv Sena. With the same Sharad Pawar Ji, Uddhav Ji forged alliance and became CM. So he cannot blame us for splitting either Shiv Sena or NCP.  Eknath Ji(Shinde) was a stauch Shiv Sainik, he would never had walked out. He realized that Uddhav Ji was trying to undercut him and make his son Aaditya Thackeray the leader.  He decided if he does not quit, his politics will come to an end.  The same happened in NCP. For years, Ajit Pawar was seen as successor to Sharad Pawar, but during the last few years, Supriya Ji (Sule) was pushed as successor….Ajit Pawar realized that his politics will come to an end because he was being made the villain. So both the parties split because of internal ambitions.”

Sharma: But Uddhav Thackeray as CM had the entire machinery, police, intelligence with him, and yet his MLAs ditched him?

Fadnavis: Uddhav Ji had lost connect with his MLAs.  His MLAs could not even meet him and used to be turn away from the gates. Among them were leaders who were with Balasaheb for years. Uddhav Ji then started Congress appeasement, and the MLAs were feeling suffocated. That’s how Uddhav Ji living on the top floor lost his ground.

Sharma: You must have helped them leave?

Fadnavis : In politics, we are not there to play marbles (Hum Sirf Kanche Khelne Ke Liye Toh Nahin Baithe). ..It was a political opportunity which we encashed.

Sharma: Is it true that Fadnavis used to wear long coat, black goggles and a hat like Sherlock Holmes to meet people?

Fadnavis: It may have happened once or twice. But my wife jokingly said something in an interview, which I don’t know. So it became news that Fadnavis used to wear long coat.

Sharma: When did Eknath Shinde contact you?

Fadnavis: When Eknath Shinde crossed the Maharashtra border, he contacted me. He said, Main Nikal Chuka Hoon. I said, Main Hoon, Chinta Mat Kariye, Nikaliye (I am there, don’t worry, get out).

Sharma: Look, he came out. The wedding ceremony was ready. The horse was fed and kept ready. Fadnavis was to be the bridgeroom, but Shinde Ji sat on the throne?

Fadnavis: (laughs) : Let me make it very clear. From Day One, it was decided that since Shinde Ji had shown such courage, he should be made the Chief Minister, because we needed the confidence of the MLAs who came with him. From Day One, it was decided he would be the CM. There was no other option. If you ask my leaders, it was I who first proposed Shindeji be made the CM so that the government can run with full force.

The only thing that was surprising to me was, I thought I would stay out of the government but my party decided that if the government has to run, our top person must be in the government. Us Samay Thoda Mujhe Atpati Laga…but later I realized the decision taken by our leaders was right. You cannot run a governmnet by staying outside. You have to be in the government, and we won the elections and came back.

Sharma: But Shinde Ji had high hopes that he would be made the CM, but he was made the Deputy CM?

Fadnavis: Shinde Ji understands politics. Where 145 was the number required for majority, BJP had won 137 seats. Shinde Ji realized that when a party has won so many seats nearing majority, it should make its leader the CM, otherwise a wrong message will go to the workers. When our senior leaders said at the meeting that the CM will be from BJP, Shindeji immediately said, I understand, you have won so many seats. BJP deserves it.

Sharma: But Shinde Ji is now saying, don’t take me lightly, Main Tanga Palat Doonga?

Fadnavis:  No, he is not speaking about me. He is speaking about Udhav Ji. He upset his tonga.

Sharma: But his tonga was already upset, and all his horses have fled. He may be speaking about this (your) tonga?

Fadnavis: No, they still take Shinde Ji lightly,and then he reminds them that I have the strength to upset your tonga.

When Rajat Sharma mentioned about ‘Jago Hindu Jago’ video that was played during elections, Fadnavis recited the entire song in the show and said: “I wrote that song during Ram Janmabhoomi movement, in which I had taken part. I sang this song during the bhoomi poojan of Ram Temple. That record became viral because of its recall value.”

Sharma: You are saying, Jaago Hindu Jaago, why not say the same thing to Muslims?

Fadnavis: Woh Soye Nahin Hain, Woh Sotey Hi Nahin Hain. (They are not asleep. They never sleep)

Asked about his remark during elections that even a dog will not urinate at the place where Emperor Aurangzeb died, Fadnavis replied: “I said, no dog will urinate on Aurangzeb’s identity. Ab Toh Bhagwa Laharayega Poore Pakistan Par.  Hindustan Par Toh Bhagwa Hai Hi.”

Asked why he said, those who worship Aurangzeb’s picture are “aulaad” (offsprings) of the Mughal emperor, Fadnavis replied: ” Bilkul Sahi Baat Kahi Maine. Aurangzeb can never be our hero. He was an outsider. They were not born from this sail. Aurangzeb inflicted atrocities on our people in the name of religion, people were killed, temples were razed. He can never become our hero. He cannot be a hero for Indian Muslims too, because Muslims, even though they have adopted a different religion, were sons of this soil. Those who are Aurangzeb Ki Aulaad do not belong to this soil. We will abuse those who praise Aurangzeb.”