Politics has become very intense these days on the results of local body elections in Maharashtra. After Ritu Tawde became the mayor of Mumbai, Shiv Sena is continuously attacking UBT BJP. In the editorial of its mouthpiece Saamana, questions have been raised on BJP, Shinde group and politics of defection. The article is a direct attack on power, money and morality.
After the completion of the municipal elections, Saamna has written that the arbitrary rule of administrators has ended and the rule of public representatives has come, provided the Chief Minister wishes. Taking a dig at BJP becoming 10 out of 11 mayors, it was said that if it has power, money and police, BJP can make mayors even on the moon and Mars.
According to the article, ‘BJP can install its mayor even on the moon and Mars and can trumpet that ‘Look, we have installed Hindu-Marathi mayors on the moon and Mars!’ Under the pressure of Marathi identity in Mumbai, BJP had to choose Ritu Tawde. Explaining the impact of Shiv Sena’s movement, it was called the victory of Marathi identity.
Mumbai’s Marathi… is Hindu only – Samana
According to the article, ‘BJP elected Ritu Tawde as the Mayor of Mumbai. One thing becomes clear from this that BJP had to accept that Marathi of Mumbai is Hindu. Shiv Sena started a war on the issue of Marathi identity, so BJP had to choose a Marathi face for the post of Mayor, albeit against its wishes. The credit for this goes to Shiv Sena.
Ritu Tawde’s statement on Bangladeshis surrounds PM
Questions have also been raised in the editorial regarding Ritu Tawde’s statement on Bangladeshis. Saamna asked whether the Prime Minister agreed with this stance. In the article, while mentioning the financial aid given to Bangladesh and the attacks on Hindus there, it was described as contradictory. The appointment of an Amrathi mayor in Mira-Bhayandar was termed as ignoring the Marathi people. The defection in Nashik and Kalyan-Dombivli was described as an example of moral degradation.
BJP compromised with Hindutva for power- Saamana
It was written in sharp words on the politics of defection that MLAs and corporators are changing sides even before the ink on the election symbol dries. The joining of representatives elected with MNS and Shiv Sena to Shinde faction was termed as betrayal. Questions were also raised on the attempt for alliance with AIMIM in Malegaon. According to the editorial, Hindutva and principles are being compromised for the sake of power.
Saamana alleged that due to the greed of contracts, funds and committees, the public representatives are betraying the public’s votes. Despite Maharashtra’s treasury being empty, crores of rupees are being spent in small elections. Discriminatory distribution of government funds was described as undemocratic. At the end of the article it was said that the political culture of Maharashtra has gone into deep decline and those in power are responsible for this.