Maharashtra: Satara ZP polls expose cracks within Mahayuti: Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday said the recent elections to the posts of president and vice president of the Satara Zilla Parishad (ZP) have exposed internal rifts within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti, turning what was meant to showcase unity into an episode marked by violence and chaos, the IANS reported.

"What was supposed to be a standard democratic process devolved into a ‘comedy drama' reminiscent of the old Marathi film ‘Ashi Hi Sataryachi Tanha' (This is the Way of Satara), but with a much darker tone. Witnesses reported a significant physical altercation between ministers who publicly present themselves as ‘brothers' in the same government," the Shiv Sena (UBT) said in Saamana.

Thackeray camp alleges minister roughed up by police

In a scathing editorial in its mouthpiece, the Thackeray camp claimed that Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai was allegedly roughed up by police personnel acting under the orders of a rival faction within his own alliance. Desai arrived at the legislature visibly injured, claiming that the police had dragged him and that "democracy has been murdered".

"Despite the Shinde and Ajit Pawar factions holding a clear majority, BJP ministers Shivendraraje and Jaykumar Gore reportedly executed a localised ‘Operation Lotus'," it claimed, the news agency reported.

Allegations of cross-voting, voter suppression and police intimidation

The editorial further alleged that key tactics used to secure the ZP presidency included engineering defections, voter suppression, and police intimidation. "Two members of the Shinde faction were reportedly induced to cross-vote, while two others were allegedly prevented from voting altogether. Plainclothes police were reportedly used to create an atmosphere of tension and forcibly remove opposing officials," it said.

According to the editorial, minister Shambhuraj Desai, the grandson of the "Lion of Satara" Balasaheb Desai, was dragged away by plainclothes police. Injured and bleeding, he cried out, "Democracy has been murdered!" While Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed these concerns, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his police department allegedly paid no attention.

Sena (UBT) mocks allies as ‘meowing' during legislature protest

"While MLAs of the ruling Shiv Sena and NCP protested on the steps of the legislature, BJP MLAs and ministers reportedly ignored them entirely. Ministers like Gulabrao Patil, who usually growl when in power, were seen ‘meowing' in protest on the steps. Even a cat strikes back in defence, but these leaders preferred merely sitting on the steps," the editorial remarked.

"These individuals previously left the Shiv Sena with the BJP's help, an act that was also a ‘murder of democracy', yet they felt nothing then. They claimed to have joined the BJP for ‘self-respect and Hindutva', but the Satara incident makes it clear they have been reduced to subordinates. Those who used the police as a tool of ‘mobocracy' to split the Shiv Sena and grab power now have no right to complain when those same police are used against them," the Thackeray camp said, IANS reported.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said the incident has sparked a broader debate about political culture in Satara and Maharashtra. "Historically, Satara was a leader in the freedom struggle, known for its discipline and culture. However, corrupt politics has replaced that rugged simplicity with hooliganism, and the region is now being characterised by ‘mob rule' and ‘corrupt power-seeking'. As the saying goes, ‘As is the king, so are the subjects'; today, ministers fight in the streets and use the police for bullying," it added.

The "centre of this mobocracy" is now the legislature itself, where those who allegedly subvert democracy now sit in power, the editorial said.

(With IANS inputs)