"I am here to say Jai Maharashtra and pay tribute to late Balasaheb Thackeray whom I liked and respected but could not meet him as I was very young (when he passed away). I am not here to campaign for Shiv Sena for the Mumbai civic polls," he said on the sidelines of an event in suburban Goregaon.
When asked why he was suddenly remembering Balasaheb, Patel said, "Enemy's enemy is a natural friend" (in an apparent reference to BJP as his and Shiv Sena's enemy).
"Since many members from Gujarati community in Mumbai are associated with my movement it was their long-time wish to felicitate me in the city," Patel said.
He alleged that the state government machinery tried to derail his visit by arm twisting methods.
"This is in the blood of BJP-ruled states to use official machinery against its rivals," Patel alleged.
He said he was supporting march by members of Marathas seeking reservation for the community.
Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai attended the meeting and said he and Uddhav Thackeray were very much "impressed" by the way the young leader carried forward his "fight" for reservation to the community.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
