The Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (SS-UBT) criticized the victory of the BJP-Shinde alliance in the recent Mumbai municipal elections, stating that voters who supported them have essentially signed a “death warrant” for the city. The party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, described the victors as the state’s “assassins,” rather than leaders, despite the slim margin of victory with just a four-seat lead in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Despite the ruling alliance’s access to state power, significant financial resources, and alleged support from the Election Commission, the editorial pointed out that their victory was narrow and barely achieved. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in response to the municipal elections across Maharashtra, thanked the public for the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) success, attributing it to their policies of “good governance.”
The editorial, however, painted a different picture, alleging administrative bias and the neglect of local interests in the election results. It criticized the Election Commission of India for being influenced by “corruption” and failing to address voter complaints adequately. The editorial also highlighted the strategic absence of Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah from the Mumbai campaign, suggesting it was due to fears of a potential BJP loss.
The Thackeray camp emphasized the loyalty of the “Marathi heartland” in Mumbai to the Shiv Sena and MNS candidates, contrasting it with the BJP’s gains in non-local areas. It warned against the governance pattern in the BMC that could lead to the infiltration of corrupt elements, turning the historic headquarters into a breeding ground for criminal activities. The editorial also noted the unexpected rise of AIMIM in various corporations, hinting at a possible strategy to divide the Congress vote bank for BJP’s benefit.
