Mumbai, Nov 20 (NationPress) Uddhav Thackeray's faction of Shiv Sena criticized the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Thursday in light of increasing dissatisfaction reported between the Shinde camp and the BJP. In an editorial published in their mouthpiece, 'Saamana', the Thackeray camp remarked that the BJP "neither takes the trouble to 'please' you nor fears your 'displeasure'," suggesting that the Shinde faction has minimal influence or respect within the coalition. They further advised the Shinde group to "bear the fruits of your karma," portraying their current challenges as results of their 2022 split from the original Shiv Sena.

The editorial claimed that the BJP is methodically attempting to undermine allied parties, including the Shinde faction, emphasizing that the "dissatisfaction within the Shinde camp is now quite visible." This came after reports indicated that Eknath Shinde's ministers had boycotted a state cabinet meeting, allegedly due to grievances regarding seat-sharing and the BJP's aggressive recruitment of local leaders.

“The Shinde faction, which expresses 'We are upset' in Mumbai and travels to Delhi to seek favor from Amit Shah, supposedly had a moment of discontent on Tuesday and boycotted the cabinet meeting. Do these individuals genuinely have the courage to boycott Chief Minister Fadnavis's cabinet?” questioned the Thackeray camp.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena accused Shinde's party members of being poached by the BJP. "In the current local body elections, the BJP is executing 'Operation Lotus' and undermining even their allies. Of course, this is nothing new; the BJP has been engaging in this type of politics for decades. Still, these poaching tremors must have affected the Shinde faction more. From that anxiety, another failed attempt at a discontent drama must have been staged," they stated.

According to the editorial, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde has previously engaged in such "acts of discontent drama." "Sometimes sulking and retreating to his farm in Satara, at other times going to Delhi and appealing to Modi and Shah," it elaborated.

“However, the impact of this on the BJP is evident from the ongoing poaching carried out by BJP members. Still, at Tuesday's cabinet meeting, the Shinde faction attempted this new experiment of discontent drama. After the cabinet meeting, Shinde's disgruntled ministers met the Chief Minister and set off silent fireworks, claiming that the BJP is not upholding the alliance dharma. The Chief Minister seemingly pacified them with his signature 'Fadnavis smile' and reflected on the poaching they had conducted. Only they know the truth, but later, BJP's Chandrashekhar Bawankule provided a special 'BJP-style' clarification. 'BJP-style' means first embracing someone, then gradually betraying them while pretending to be innocent," it remarked.

The Thackeray camp asserted in their mouthpiece that the Chief Minister simultaneously claims that Mahayuti is unbreakable while creating a 'division' by stating that alliance decisions will be made at the local level. In party meetings, he offers comforting advice to office-bearers, saying, 'Remember that allies are our own,' yet when the same office-bearers poach allies, he turns a blind eye. “Now, following Tuesday's discontent, CM lectured the Shinde faction and sent them off with an understanding encapsulated in words like 'What has happened, has happened; from here on, leaders of parties in Mahayuti will not join each other's parties.' This clarification was not given by the Chief Minister, but by BJP Minister Bawankule. Why did he do it? That’s not the question, but through this, BJP's multifaceted character has once again come to light,” it alleged.

Targeting the Shinde faction, the Thackeray camp posed the question, “Do those who betrayed their own mother and succumbed to others' manipulation for power have the moral authority to protest against poaching or express frustration over discontent?” They further added, “You have forfeited that right, and the BJP is fully aware of this. That’s why they first fracture alliances and then engage in the drama of applying a balm, asserting 'This much now, no more ahead.'”

Intensifying the attack on the Shinde faction, the Thackeray camp stated in the editorial, "The bravado of 'not from here on' that the BJP has displayed is part of the same old tradition, and what other alternatives do Shinde and his associates have? ...Therefore, there is no merit in their complaints regarding 'Operation Lotus.' You have willingly ensnared yourselves in the invisible net under the 'lotus' waters. That net will gradually tighten around you, while the 'lotus' on the surface remains poised. When the BJP divided you, you eagerly split away from the original party out of a craving for power. Now, when the BJP is fracturing your faction as well, what is the point of protesting? The dust of your discontent is colorless, and each time this dust rises, it settles down just the same. It does not irritate the BJP's eyes at all,” it mocked.