Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday for its open-door strategy, which has been evident over the past 11 years. This approach involves accusing opposition leaders of corruption and then welcoming them back after a process of 'purification.'

In the party's publication, ‘Saamana’, the Thackeray faction indicated that this open-door tactic has become a significant concern for long-standing party members.

The editorial highlighted former BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar's recent frustrations regarding the party's present condition, likening its structure to the village of Shani Shingnapur, noted for its doorless homes. While the BJP emerged as the leading party in recent municipal and nagar panchayat elections throughout Maharashtra, they faced a substantial defeat in Mungantiwar’s district of Chandrapur.

Commenting on the BJP's practices, Mungantiwar stated that the party has developed a system where 'anyone can enter at any time and be welcomed into the party.'

He pointed out that in Chandrapur, the BJP operates essentially as a party with 'no doors.' This sentiment is not isolated to one area but reflects a broader national tendency of the BJP to accept leaders from various political affiliations, as noted in the editorial.

“The veteran leader's discontent stems from a poor performance in the Chandrapur district elections, where the BJP secured only two of the 11 municipal seats. The Congress won seven, while one went to an Independent candidate and another to the Shinde faction. Mungantiwar attributed this loss to internal divisions and insufficient backing from party leaders, claiming that while Congress supported its leaders, his own party members sought to undermine him,” the editorial stated. It further noted, “Having previously held the position of Finance Minister for the state, Mungantiwar was replaced by Ajit Pawar, a move he views as a disregard for his loyalty and capabilities,” the editorial continued.

This tension has resulted in public disagreements among BJP members. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule remarked that losses are not merely due to lacking a ministerial role, to which Mungantiwar retorted that Bawankule felt similarly when his own influence was diminished in the past. A newcomer in the party even mocked him by questioning if he was emulating former BJP minister Eknath Khadse, the editorial reported.

In response to the 'suffocation' felt by loyal party members due to the influx of leaders from other parties, Mungantiwar declared a 'Dialogue Tour' throughout the state. However, party leadership, concerned about a potential show of support from dissatisfied loyalists, intervened swiftly. As a result, Mungantiwar canceled the tour within hours, according to the editorial.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena asserted that the comparison to 'Shani Shingnapur' continues to be a 'thorn in the side' for Mungantiwar, with many dedicated party activists feeling that the party's essence is being compromised by its open-door policy.