Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Thackeray sought to know if the foreign ministry has cleared the visit of the Maharashtra CM's Davos delegation for the World Economic Forum congregation.

"The unconstitutional chief minister of Maharashtra (Shinde) is visiting Davos with 50 delegates. As per my information, the Ministry for External Affairs has to clear the names of delegates visiting such investment events," he said.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.76%

AAP 43.10%

INC 24.14%

Submit

View All In Poll

Thackeray took potshots at Shinde, who will attend the gathering on Tuesday, over his visit to the Swiss town and referred to the latter's rebellion in June 2022 when he flew to Guwahati with Shiv Sena MLAs supporting him.

"There are some sitting Lok Sabha members as well as former parliamentarians (in the delegation). Those who could not go to Guwahati (with Shinde during his rebellion) are now being taken to Davos as compensation," he said sarcastically.

The MLA from Worli in Mumbai wondered whether taxpayers' money would be used on such trips by officials who have no business to be there.

"The World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos needs just 5 to 6 people, including the chief minister. Why do so many people are being taken there. As per my information, there are some middlemen as well as officers on special duty and personal assistants who are visiting Davos. Is it not illegal and unethical?" he asked.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Office issued a statement on Monday, saying, "Ten people, including CM Shinde, Industries Minister Uday Samant, top officials from the industries department, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and CMO, will visit Davos."

Also read: Maharashtra CM Shinde-led Sena moves HC against Speaker decision to not disqualify Uddhav Thackeray faction MLAs

"Another delegation of eight officials from MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) and Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd will participate separately. All have obtained required clearances from the ministries concerned," said the statement.

Shinde had visited Davos in 2023, too, where memorandums of understanding (MoUs) envisaging investments worth Rs 1.37 lakh crore in the state were signed, of which 76 per cent have actually materialised. This year, MoUs worth Rs 3.10 lakh crore will be inked, which will be a record in itself, it said.

Companies that would be setting up their plants in the state will not be restricted to the Mumbai-Pune industrial belt, but will go beyond it in districts like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Gadchiroli, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Jalna and Raigad, the statement added.

The WEF is an international organization for public-private cooperation that engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (With inputs from PTI)