Uddhav Thackeray Reacts to Maharashtra Election Setback, Warns of BJP’s “One Party, One Nation” Agenda
New Delhi : Uddhav Thackeray, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, appeared deeply shocked by his party’s significant loss in the recent state elections, a result that starkly contrasts with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance’s success in the previous Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the media, Thackeray questioned the sudden and overwhelming victory of the ruling alliance, particularly when MVA rallies had drawn larger crowds compared to those of the opposition.
“I’m struggling to understand how Maharashtra, which stood by me so firmly during the COVID crisis, could now abandon me like this,” said the 64-year-old leader, clearly taken aback by the election results. “How did they manage to secure such a decisive win in such a short period? What kind of transformation did they execute?” Thackeray’s comments revealed his astonishment at the sudden and unforeseen political shift, as he struggled to understand the dramatic turn in his fortunes.
Despite the setback, Thackeray brushed off claims from the ruling factions that the election results confirmed the legitimacy of their claim to the “real Shiv Sena” title. “We have been waiting for a decision on the party’s name and symbol for years.”.This issue now lies in the courts,” he remarked, emphasizing the unresolved legal battle over the Shiv Sena identity.
While acknowledging the BJP’s strong performance, Thackeray refrained from attributing the loss to the controversy surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), despite some voices in his camp alleging foul play. “Some are blaming EVMs for the result, but if the people have accepted it, I have no issue with that,” he stated.
However, Thackeray expressed concern about the growing influence of the BJP, referring to BJP president JP Nadda’s previous statement about a “one party” future. “It appears they are driving towards a ‘one party, one nation’ approach,” he warned, suggesting that the BJP’s dominance is becoming a serious concern for India’s political plurality.
Under Thackeray’s leadership, the Shiv Sena UBT secured only 20 of the 89 seats it contested, a far cry from the 57 seats won by Eknath Shinde’s faction, which contested 80. The ruling alliance, consisting of Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, and the BJP, is dominating with a commanding 236 out of Maharashtra’s 288 seats.
Despite the electoral blow, Thackeray urged his supporters to remain hopeful and promised to continue challenging the political establishment. “This defeat is just a temporary setback. We will keep fighting for the voice of the people of Maharashtra,” he asserted, signaling his commitment to challenging the current political order in the state.
