State BJP media in-charge Navnath Ban said the recent political developments show that people increasingly associate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Fadnavis with development
Uddhav Thackeray betrayed Devendra Fadnavis for the chief minister’s post, State BJP media in-charge Navnath Ban said. File Pic
BJP on Thursday claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray is now facing the political consequences of his 2019 “betrayal” of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) extended support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) days after the conclusion of Maharashtra local body elections, reported the PTI.
State BJP media in-charge Navnath Ban said the recent political developments show that people increasingly associate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Fadnavis with development.
A new alignment emerged on Wednesday when five corporators of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS offered support to the Shiv Sena, which is part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
The move strengthened the ruling alliance in the KDMC and is being seen as a setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
The decision came soon after the January 15 BMC Election 2026, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS had contested together.
BJP targets Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership
Speaking to reporters at the BJP’s state office, Ban said Uddhav Thackeray had abandoned Devendra Fadnavis despite fighting the 2019 Assembly elections together with the BJP.
“Uddhav Thackeray betrayed Devendra Fadnavis for the chief minister’s post, and he is now reaping the fruits of that betrayal in Kalyan,” Ban said.
He added that the Shiv Sena (UBT) has politically harmed the MNS, pointing out that Raj Thackeray’s party has fewer corporators in Mumbai than it did in the 2017 civic elections, despite its alliance with the Sena (UBT).
Political war of words
Reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s claim that Raj Thackeray was “distraught” over the KDMC development, Ban said it was ironic for leaders who had ignored political ethics in the past to lecture others on morality.
He also said that Uddhav Thackeray and Raut had no right to speak on ethics after turning their backs on the BJP following the 2019 polls.
‘Support for development and Hindutva’
Ban said the MNS had extended support to the BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti in KDMC in the interest of development and Hindutva, and accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of misleading people on the issue.
He claimed that voters across Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Thane, Navi Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra had given a clear mandate to the Mahayuti alliance.
Fresh attack on Sanjay Raut
The BJP leader also criticised Sanjay Raut over his recent remarks supporting certain religious leaders, alleging that his concern surfaced only after electoral defeats. Ban further claimed that the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership remained silent after the killing of two sadhus in Palghar in 2020, when the party was in power.
(with PTI inputs)
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