20 December,2025 03:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Varsh Gaikwad accused the BJP of resorting to religious polarisation whenever elections approach. File Pic/X
Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday said that voters in the metropolis would reject the BJP's 'religious politics and double standards' in the upcoming municipal elections, choosing instead to focus on pressing civic concerns, reported the PTI.
Polling for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), is scheduled for 15 January, with counting to take place the following day.
Varsh Gaikwad accused the BJP of resorting to religious polarisation whenever elections approach.
"Whenever elections come, the BJP starts playing religious politics," she said in a statement, according to the PTI.
She pointed to what she described as contradictions within the BJP's political stance. While BJP Mumbai unit chief Ameet Satam has publicly claimed that NCP leader Nawab Malik is unacceptable, Gaikwad noted that Sunil Tatkare, state president of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, continues to hold discussions with senior BJP leader Ashish Shelar, as per the PTI.
Gaikwad further alleged that the BJP's actions do not align with its public rhetoric. "The BJP says Nawab Malik is unwanted, yet his MLA daughter, Sana Malik, votes in favour of the BJP government. This clearly exposes the party's double standards," she said.
According to the Lok Sabha MP, the BJP's approach of clinging to power, enjoying its privileges, and turning to religious politics during elections is evident to the people of Mumbai.
"Mumbaikars will not be misled by this," Gaikwad said, adding that voters would prioritise genuine civic issues such as road conditions, traffic congestion, clean drinking water, and air quality.
Earlier, the Mumbai North Central MP had claimed that corruption increased during the administrator's tenure, while citizens were deprived of basic services such as good roads, reliable water supply, clean air, education and healthcare.
She had pointed out that the BJP, along with the undivided Shiv Sena, had ruled the BMC for nearly 25 years, and that the civic body has now been under an administrator appointed by the BJP-led state government for the past three years.
During this period, she alleged, the BMC's treasury was misused.
(with PTI inputs)
