The Shiv Sena on Wednesday said that defeats in local body elections in Gujarat, UP and Maharashtra should trigger alarm bells within BJP. A junior ally in the BJP-led Maharashtra state government, Shiv Sena has also said that an introspection is the need of the hour for the party at the centre.
It also said that the Congress’ win in local bodies polls is “only a trailer” and “the film is yet to begin”.
“Inspite of having a strong leadership in the state and people’s mandate, the Congress is surging ahead. The BJP Chief Minister has to take note of this,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said.
“The party won handsomely in Lok Sabha polls due to the Modi wave, but history has shown that balloons that fly in the air do not remain there for long,” it said.
The ruling alliance partner further said that the mistakes which were making people uncomfortable needed to be assessed.
“If the atmosphere that was created during the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls is now suffocating people, it needs to be ascertained what mistakes are being made that are causing it. The results (of local bodies polls) are an indication that Maharashtra’s political environment is in danger,” it said.
The Congress won 105 out of 345 wards in the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls held on Sunday. The NCP won 80 and the Shiv Sena 59 wards. The BJP finished at the bottom of the tally with 39 seats.
There have been several indications that despite coming together to form the Maharashtra government, Shiv Sena and BJP have had numerous differences. BJP’s dipping fortunes in recent local body elections has, many say, further emboldened Shiv Sena to flex its muscles. On Wednesday, the party said that BJP – relegated to a poor fourth place in the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls and bypolls – should do introspection to ascertain why it has ‘fallen’ since an emphatic showing in the general elections.
“There is severe drought in the state. The government keeps on making announcements but the throats of farmers are parched. Their problems will not end by merely making announcements. The Congress’ win in the local body polls is only a trailer, the film is yet to begin,” the editorial said.
