Mumbai, Feb 12 (NationPress) The recent election of Shiv Sena-UBT corporator Syed Iqbal Syed Khaja as the Mayor of the Parbhani Municipal Corporation has sparked a fierce political showdown between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.

The Mahayuti coalition has accused Uddhav Thackeray of straying from the core ideology of the Shiv Sena, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) has defended this election as an embodiment of the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.

The MVA has successfully secured both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions within the civic body, with Congress corporator Ganesh Deshmukh being elected as Deputy Mayor.

The appointment of a Muslim Mayor has drawn criticism from the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde criticized Uddhav Thackeray, asserting that this development validates the 2022 split in the party.

“In 2019, they forsook Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology for power. Today, in Parbhani, their true nature has been unveiled. While we continue Balasaheb’s legacy, they are heading in a different direction,” Shinde stated.

BJP legislator Chitra Wagh also condemned the decision, questioning the motives behind the Shiv Sena (UBT). “Has Parbhani been turned green because the ambition of appointing a ‘Khan’ as Mayor in Mumbai went unfulfilled?” she queried, alluding to the party’s historical dominance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare defended the election and challenged the BJP’s concerns.

“Why is the mayoral election in Parbhani suddenly significant for the BJP and the Shinde faction? The election of a Muslim Mayor this time doesn’t tarnish the nation’s image,” she remarked, referencing the regular election of Muslim corporators in civic polls.

Andhare also highlighted a recent event hosted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attended by actor Salman Khan, questioning the differences drawn between public figures and elected officials.

Voting took place through a show of hands, revealing a clear majority for the MVA. According to the pre-poll agreement among allies, the Shiv Sena (UBT) contested the Mayor’s post while the Congress aimed for the Deputy Mayor’s.

Syed Iqbal Syed Khaja garnered 39 votes in the 65-member corporation.

A significant moment during the voting was the refusal of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporators Akshay Deshmukh and Razia Begum to support the BJP candidate, further solidifying the MVA's advantage.

In the 65-member Parbhani Municipal Corporation, the Shiv Sena (UBT) emerged as the largest party with 25 corporators, followed by Congress with 12, BJP with 12, NCP with 11, Jan Surajya Shakti with 3, and others with 2.

This development follows a setback for the BJP against the Congress in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation elections, where the Congress was the largest party yet failed to secure the Mayor's position due to internal conflicts.

Local leaders within the MVA characterized the outcome in Parbhani as a result of strategic cooperation among alliance partners.

“We remain dedicated to the swift development of the city and addressing the challenges faced by residents under this new leadership,” MVA leaders stated after the results were disclosed.

In the meantime, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal affirmed that the Congress honored “alliance dharma” by backing the Shiv Sena (UBT) to obstruct the BJP from gaining control of the civic body.

However, he criticized the Shiv Sena (UBT) for its position in Chandrapur, claiming that its local choice to support the BJP in the mayoral election was misguided. “The events in Chandrapur and Parbhani illustrate that the Shiv Sena (UBT) seeks votes from the Congress within the alliance but does not always reciprocate,” he remarked.