The rebellion by six MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is not only a betrayal of Uddhav Thackeray and his Shiv Sena, but also an attack against the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) opposition, Maharashtra State Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal said here on Wednesday.
“The people voted them to victory against the BJP-led Mahayuti and this is also a betrayal of the people’s verdict. Hence, the people will teach these traitors a lesson,” Sapkal said.
“The six MPs who rebelled and left the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena were candidates of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, the NCP and Uddhav-led Shiv Sena workers campaigned for these six MPs. Hence, this defection is an insult to all of them. These six MPs have betrayed all of them. These people who sold out themselves for money do not belong to anyone,” Sapkal said.
“The BJP has started a Tughlaq-like regime by trampling over democratic and constitutional values. Power is their only goal and in the last few years, elections have been reduced to a game of ‘throwing money and watching the spectacle’. If the election is not won, the winning candidates are purchased with money. Otherwise their candidature itself is cancelled by misusing the Election Commission. All this is harmful to democracy, but the most unfortunate thing is that none of these incidents are being given remedy in the legislature or parliament or even the courts. The BJP has captured all these institutions and is running the state on the basis of terror,” Sapkal said.
Reacting to the political developments in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, social activist Anjali Dmania said, “I am angry to see what has happened today. Even though I am not a supporter of any political party, it is painful to watch this. Even if I vote, I will wonder why I vote. Eknath Shinde and his men are being utilised, but they do not seem to understand this. This is indirectly a conspiracy of the BJP. All this is being done to create an artificial two-thirds majority for the various bills like the Delimitation Bill which they wish to pass. To do that, the BJP needs MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Why are all these defecting MPs going to meet Amit Shah after meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker? They have been told that one of the six MPs will be given a ministerial post along with Rs 100 crore. Where has all this money come from? All this is not possible without money”.
“I have fought against Thackeray and Pawar, but looking at the current situation, leave aside the party, democracy itself is in danger. So both these parties should open their eyes now. Both these parties should collect people’s votes and file a PIL against these six defecting MPs. If these things continue, the BJP government will remain in power for 50 years. Let there be no doubt about it. A movement should be launched to save democracy,” social activist Anjali Damania said.
“Why have the six MPs done all this? They have so much invisible support from BJP. Aren’t there going to be elections in the future? They want to create such a picture. Why is Eknath Shinde going to Delhi every time? Is Amit Shah doing all this? Or is he downplaying Fadnavis? There are too many unanswered questions,” social activist Anjali Damania said.