In a strongly worded editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the party said the BJP “neither takes the trouble to please you nor fears your displeasure”, suggesting that the Shinde faction enjoys little influence within the ruling alliance
Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena amid reports of rising friction between the Shinde camp and the BJP, reported news agency IANS.
In a strongly worded editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the party said the BJP “neither takes the trouble to please you nor fears your displeasure”, suggesting that the Shinde faction enjoys little influence within the ruling alliance. It further said the Shinde group must now “bear the fruits of your karma”, calling the current turmoil a consequence of their 2022 defection from the original Shiv Sena, reported IANS.
The editorial alleged that the BJP is gradually working to weaken its allies, including the Shinde faction, and that “dissatisfaction within the Shinde camp is now out in the open”.
Boycott of cabinet meeting sparks criticism
The remarks came after reports that several ministers from the Shinde camp had boycotted a state cabinet meeting, reportedly unhappy with seat-sharing arrangements and the BJP’s aggressive induction of local leaders.
Taking a swipe, the Thackeray camp questioned whether the Shinde faction truly had the courage to challenge Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “The Shinde faction that says ‘we are upset’ in Mumbai and goes to Delhi to wash Amit Shah’s feet supposedly had an outburst of discontent and boycotted the cabinet meeting. Do they really have the courage to boycott Fadnavis’s cabinet?” the editorial said, reported IANS.
‘Operation Lotus’ and allegations of poaching
The Saamana editorial accused the BJP of poaching Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders even during ongoing local body elections. It claimed the BJP is executing “Operation Lotus” not just against rivals but also against its own allies, adding that the “tremors of poaching” have rattled the Shinde camp, reported IANS.
According to the editorial, Shinde has enacted such “discontent dramas” before—sometimes by retreating to his farm in Satara, and at other times by rushing to Delhi to seek intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, reported IANS.
It said the Shinde camp’s latest attempt at expressing displeasure fell flat as Fadnavis “disarmed them with his signature smile” and reminded them of their own history of poaching.
BJP’s ‘multi-faced character’, says UBT
The editorial also questioned why BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule had to issue clarifications on alliance tensions instead of the Chief Minister. It alleged the BJP was again displaying its “multi-faced character”—one that embraces allies and later undercuts them.
It added that while Fadnavis publicly says the Mahayuti alliance is unbreakable, he simultaneously allows local-level decisions that fuel divisions.
‘Those who betrayed their own house have no right to complain’
In a direct attack on the Shinde-led faction, Saamana said, “Those who stabbed their own mother in the back for power have no moral right to protest against poaching or express anger.” It claimed the BJP is exploiting the faction’s vulnerability because “you have lost that right yourself”, reported IANS.
The editorial argued that the Shinde group had walked into the BJP’s trap and must now live with the consequences. “You willingly trapped yourself in the invisible net under the lotus water. That net will slowly strangle you as the lotus sways above. When the BJP divided you, you were joyous. Now, when the BJP is breaking your faction too, what is the point of protesting?," reported IANS.
Concluding its attack, the Thackeray camp said the Shinde camp’s periodic displays of discontent have no effect on the BJP. “The dust of your discontent is colourless. Each time it rises, it settles the same way—it never reaches the BJP’s eyes.”
(With inputs from IANS)
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