Mahayuti Rift Widens As Sattar Accuses BJP Of ‘Beheading’ Shiv Sena
The Shiv Sena MLA’s remarks came after Mahayuti’s nominees for the 16 seats of the upcoming Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad elections were announced on Monday: Reports
MUMBAI: Differences in the ruling Mahayuti alliance are out in the open with the senior Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Abdul Sattar accusing the BJP of ‘beheading’ his party. He also suggested that both factions led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray should set aside their differences and reunite.
“Our ally BJP is doing the work of beheading the Shiv Sena. Kamakhya Devi in Guwahati knows about our sacrifice, but the BJP has completely forgotten that sacrifice now. BJP is breaking our party into several factions and conspiring to eliminate the Shiv Sena. BJP has already broken our limbs, now they are aiming to break our heads and finish us politically,” Mr. Sattar said.
The Shiv Sena MLA’s remarks came after Mahayuti’s nominees for the 16 seats of the upcoming Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad elections were announced on Monday. The Shiv Sena (Shinde) had staked its claims on the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar seat, which went to the BJP in the seat-sharing arrangement. Following this, Sattar’s son Sameer Sattar filed his nomination as an independent against the official BJP candidate Suhas Shirsat from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar seat.
Abdul Sattar said Sambhaji Nagar district and city had been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena since the days of Balasaheb Thackeray. However, he claimed that the BJP, despite being an alliance partner, was steadily taking over the Sena’s traditional base and weakening its influence.
The MLA said the BJP had first wrested control of the Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, followed by the district panchayat and development bodies and was now sidelining the Shiv Sena in the MLC elections by denying it a candidature. “We left our old party leader and joined hands with the BJP. The situation arising today is like a slow poison and it needs to be treated in the future. Attempts are being made to finish Shiv Sena off gradually. One by one our strongholds are starting to collapse,” he said.
Mr. Sattar claimed that both the Shiv Sena factions should come together to counter the BJP. “I believe that both Shiv Senas should come together. If our leader, DCM Eknath Shinde, decides to come together, then there will be no need to ask anyone. I will completely accept whatever decision my leader takes,” he said.
Comparing the Shiv Sena’s situation to that of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Mr. Sattar said, “We should not have a 'Mamata' like situation in West Bengal. Once upon a time, Mamata Banerjee and the BJP were together In West Bengal. Later, their coordination broke down and today they are killing each other. Workers like me should take care and be vigilant that we do not have a ‘Mamata'-like situation in Maharashtra.”