Uddhav Thackerays Sena attacks Eknath Shinde for choosing BJP over Balasahebs legacy

New Delhi: The Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, secured a comprehensive victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, taking control of Mumbai's civic body, which is known for being cash-rich.

Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday upped the ante in attacking Shinde. The party leaders alleged that Maharashtra’s Deputy CM dismantled late Balasaheb Thackeray's party and ensured BJP’s victory in the battle to hold sway over the state’s most powerful civic body.

Party leader Akhil Chitre accused Shinde of splitting the party and aligning with the BJP, pushing the erstwhile Shiv Sena out of its bastion, Mumbai. He alleged that the rich promises made to Shinde came at the cost of Marathi pride.

Uddhav Thackeray called the BMC elections outcome morale-boosting while addressing Sena workers. He said, "You all are the true architects of this success; we are merely a medium. The result that has come in such circumstances is truly a matter of pride."

He added, "They believe they have finished Shiv Sena on paper, but they can never destroy the Shiv Sena that exists on the ground. They can never remain connected to the ground. The traitors left, but they could not buy loyalty. Those who have won through betrayal have done so by mortgaging Mumbai. The Marathi people will never forgive this sin."

Sena (UBT) leaders did not shy away from pointing out that only 29 corporators of the Shinde faction were elected in the recently concluded BMC polls, despite instigating the defections of 56 sitting members. The party accused that as the move downed its party workers on the ground, the BJP rose to have its first mayor in Mumbai. Sanjay Raut has also accused Shinde of facilitating the BJP's dominance in Mumbai. He said, "The Marathi people will remember him as Jaichand." Shiv Sena UBT leader has stated that the erstwhile party's division split its traditional voter base, fragmenting the opposition, and directly benefiting the BJP.

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Meanwhile, Shinde has thanked people "for choosing development over corruption" and added, "The results show that people have accepted Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde’s work. Now, there will be a triple-engine sarkar to develop Mumbai."

He added, "Over the past three and a half years, our alliance government has worked for the development of the city of Mumbai. Whenever the prime minister visits Mumbai, he has said that Mumbai should become an international city. We will make Mumbai pothole-free and corruption-free. We will upgrade Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana."