Mumbai, May 28 (TOI): Saamna carried the DAVP ad of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its Wednesday issue, but criticized the BJP regime at the Centre for bringing about only "cosmetic changes" in the country. The Sena is a partner in the NDA.
Stating that Shiv Sena tried its best to trounce the Congress-NCP rule in Maharashtra (in the state assembly elections last year), Saamna said voters in some regions were, however, impressed by (BJP's) "make-up". "Shiv Sena doesn't believe in wearing such masks and layers of make-up. Shiv Sena pramukh Bal Thackeray never taught us the art of doublespeak," the Sena mouthpiece remarked.
In an editorial, Saamna pulled up chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the flight of Maharashtra's capital to the neighbouring Gujarat state. "The chief minister of the neighbouring state visits Mumbai and woos our corporate captains. Fadnavis should have taken a firm stand on the issue," Saamna stated. Slamming Mumbai's Gujarati industrialists for "favouring Gujarat", Saamna said, "Maharashtra will be the number one state in capital accumulation if those who live here and earn money here stop taking their wealth elsewhere."
Saamna reminded Fadnavis of his recent statement that Gujarat was leading the nation in foreign investment and said the CM should initiate drastic measures to "change the picture."
Saamna lambasted the Maharashtra government for allowing the Centre to relocate several key offices in Mumbai to New Delhi.
Reacting to Fadnavis's recent announcement that the BJP would team up with the Sena for the Mumbai civic elections, Saamna wondered as to why did the BJP decided to go solo in the assembly elections.