The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) stated that the era of administrator-led governance has ended with the conclusion of municipal elections and the appointment of new Mayors in various locations. They criticized the BJP for allegedly engaging in unethical power grabs and eroding democratic values. The Thackeray camp accused the BJP of attempting to install Mayors in multiple municipal corporations, asserting control over power, money, and the police force.
The editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ highlighted the BJP’s aggressive campaigning and financial investments in elections at all levels. It questioned the discrepancy between advising austerity due to an empty state treasury while significant funds are spent on elections by the BJP and its allies. The editorial criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his cabinet for what they perceive as a decline in Maharashtra’s political culture.
According to the Thackeray camp, the BJP’s selection of Mayoral candidates, such as Ritu Tawade in Mumbai, has sparked controversy. Tawade’s pledge to deport Bangladeshis from Mumbai raised concerns, especially given ongoing attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh. The editorial also mentioned instances of defection and alliance-building among political factions in different regions of Maharashtra, criticizing the abandonment of ideologies for power.
The editorial further criticized elected representatives defecting to ruling parties for personal gains, such as securing development funds for their constituencies. It condemned this trend of defection as detrimental to the democratic process, labeling it as a disturbing emergence of “political termites.” Despite congratulating the new Mayoral boards, the Thackeray camp reiterated its concerns about the deteriorating political culture in Maharashtra.
