Engineered defections have damaged Maharashtra politics: Shiv Sena (UBT)

The Shiv Sena UBT has criticised the recent political developments in Maharashtra claiming that the states political culture has been affected by increasing defections and the pursuit of powerIn an editorial published in party mouthpiece Saamana the Uddhav Thackerayled party accused the ruling establishments at the Centre and in Maharashtra of encouraging defections and weakening political principlesThe editorial alleged that Maharashtras earlier political culture known for ideological differences despite mutual respect has been replaced by competition for power and positionsEditorial targets leaders switching partiesThe Shiv Sena UBT criticised elected representatives who switch political loyalties and alleged that some leaders were changing sides for money or positionsBreaking or buying such helpless and mentally weak individuals requires no bravery the editorial saidThe party claimed that the ongoing political situation had created disappointment among genuine political workers who entered public life to raise peoples issuesAccording to the editorial the current political environment promotes the idea that development work can only be done by remaining close to those in powerShiv Sena UBT recalls former political leadersThe editorial said that several social workers and leaders in the past carried out their work while maintaining independent views and political principlesIt mentioned social workers and political figures including Baba Amte Shivajirao Patwardhan Dr Abhay Bang Popatrao Pawar Dr Prakash Amte Madhu Dandavate Nath Pai Madhu Limaye Pilu Modi George Fernandes Hiren Mukherjee Ganpatrao Deshmukh and N D PatilThe party claimed that such leaders would have faced pressure under the current political atmosphereAccording to the editorial political differences should not prevent individuals from working for society and public causesThackeray camp attacks ruling alliance leadersThe Shiv Sena UBT also targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the recent political developments in the stateThe editorial alleged that the ruling alliance was focused on weakening opposition parties instead of strengthening democratic valuesReferring to the recent defection of six Shiv Sena MPs and a Member of the Legislative Council MLC to the Shindeled faction the Thackeray camp rejected their claims of political compulsionIt accused the leaders of prioritising personal interests after receiving political opportunities from their original partyMaharashtrarsquos political culture has changed claims editorialThe editorial claimed that the trend of political defections has affected Maharashtrarsquos tradition of ideological politics and public serviceThe Shiv Sena UBT alleged that political loyalty and principles were being replaced by shortterm gains and power calculationsIt said the current developments should lead to wider discussions on maintaining democratic values and political accountabilityThe ruling alliance has repeatedly denied opposition allegations regarding defections and has maintained that leaders joining its side are doing so due to their own political choicesWith inputs from IANS