18 November,2025 12:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Filepic
With civic polls just around the corner in Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday expressed their anguish at Congress. Shiv Sena (UBT) said the Congress party's announcement of going solo in the ensuing elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be 'suicidal', and the opposition unity is essential to checkmate the BJP.
As reported by news agency IANS, the Thackeray camp, in its mouthpiece, 'Saamana', said that "unity was needed to stop the BJP plan to 'hijack the election system through hooliganism, mob rule, excessive use of money and police force to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.'" It claimed that Maharashtra will not forgive those who go against the Marathi public sentiment."
"Bihar has once again shown the level at which the BJP and its 'backbenchers' play election games. At such a time, the only way is to come together and fight without playing this game of who has what ideology. We can discuss each other's culture and ideology later. Rahul Gandhi has already spoken of teaching a lesson to the current Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. That lesson can be taught only if the opposition remains united," the Saamana mentioned.
The editorial, spearheaded by veteran Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, also warned of a split in votes if Congress decides to fight BMC elections independently, fearing that North Indian and Muslim voters will distance themselves from it.
The Saamana quoted, "Congress should not worry about the Muslims and North Indians in Mumbai. As Marathi, they will stand firmly by our side. We just need to give them confidence. These people are being crushed under the yoke of the BJP's mob rule. Among those who are being displaced in parts of Mumbai, there are Hindi-speaking people and Muslims also. Are they going to carry the BJP's palanquin? Absolutely not," as cited by news agency IANS.
The Thackeray camp reminded the Congress party that the Muslim community voted for Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) editorial further mentioned that, "The help given by Uddhav Thackeray during the Corona period, regardless of caste or religion, resulted in Muslims voting for Shiv Sena. No matter how much the Congress fears, we are confident that Maha Vikas Aghadi, along with the Shiv Sena, will get those Muslim votes again," as per IANS.
The party in the editorial also quoted Shiv Sena (UBT) as saying that it told the Congress party that it won't be able to fulfil its wish that the North Indians, Hindi-speaking voters, and Muslims will vote 100 per cent due to its decision to go solo.
"Well, you will fight independently in Mumbai. Then what about the other 27 municipal corporations? Will you continue to play the role of 'Ekla Chalo Re' (going solo) there too? It doesn't seem so. The wisdom lies in the fact that all the Marathi people, as the religion of Maharashtra, should come together and raise their voice against the BJP. Maharashtra's interest lies in that," the Saamana mentioned.
According to the editorial, the Congress party should avoid flip-flops this time, which were visible during the Samyukt Maharashtra Movement (demanding the creation of a separate 'Marathi-speaking' state with Mumbai as its capital). "Keep aside the national ideas of the national party for now and think about how the Marathi people will unfurl the saffron flag atop BMC," as cited by IANS.
(With inputs from IANS)
