BJP MP Narayan Rane on Sunday (January 12, 2024) criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for the party’s announcement about contesting local body elections alone. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu
BJP MP Narayan Rane on Sunday (January 12, 2024) criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for the party’s announcement about contesting local body elections alone, complaining that the latter’s power has been reduced.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday (January 11, 2024) announced that it will contest the local body elections alone, raising a question about the unity of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Party leader Sanjay Raut cited the lack of opportunities for workers from different parties in the alliance and the right to grow the organization as considerations for going solo.
Mr. Raut said that the INDIA bloc and the MVA alliances – which include the Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) – are for the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
Responding to this development, Mr. Rane said, “Uddhav Thackeray once spoke with confidence, but now his power has waned. What will happen if they contest alone? The party has no power. In two and a half years, he still has power. He has lost what was achieved under Balasaheb Thackeray in 46 years.”
The announcement that the Shiv Sena (UBT) will go solo in the local body elections comes amid rumors that the party is softening its criticism of the BJP and Fadnavis’ “anything is possible in politics” remark.
Asked about the idea of ​​growing rapprochement between the Sena (UBT) and the BJP, the former union minister said, “I don’t know that. It sounds good to me. The top leaders will take a decision on this, and we will accept it.”
He also refused to comment that the BJP would contest the local body elections independently.
Mr. Rane also slammed Sena MP Raut for his allegations that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was protecting the prime accused in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case and the state government was protecting the mafia.
He said, “When Shiv Sena was in power, who was Raut protecting? Which mafia did he meet? What good deed put him in jail? He should explain this first. Shiv Sena (UBT) has no credible voices, that’s why Raut is making such statements.”
Asked about the unhappiness of Deputy Prime Minister Eknath Shinde for not getting another term as CM, Mr. Rane said, “Mr. Shinde has done an excellent job during his administration. Since the BJP has many MPs this time, the chief minister was from the party. Shinde cannot be upset as he is a politician.”
Published – January 12, 2025 02:47 pm IST