Mumbai, Nov 15 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Saturday strongly condemned the Bihar Assembly election outcomes, claiming a collusion between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to ensure the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) success.

The Shiv Sena-UBT expressed that the results were anticipated and indicated a breakdown of public confidence in the electoral system.

These statements were published in an editorial in their official publication, Saamana, titled ‘Long Live Election Commission’, which sternly accused both the Election Commission and the BJP of working together during the elections.

The editorial raised a provocative question, stating, “When the guardian of elections aids the thieves, who can the public trust?”

It described the current state of the nation as alarming and suggested that it feels “as though the limitless rule of the Kauravas has commenced in the Mahabharata, with no end in sight.”

Labeling the Bihar election results as “a scam in Indian democracy,” the editorial contended that elections have “lost their significance under the Modi-Shah administration.”

The piece remarked that any celebrations in Delhi following the Bihar results, accompanied by “drums and trumpets,” should not be misconstrued as mere victory festivities. Instead, it portrayed the scene as “a forewarning that the funeral procession of Indian democracy has begun.”

Questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process, the editorial highlighted a troubling atmosphere in the country, while also asserting that the Constitution possesses the resilience to endure challenges and that public resistance will persist.

The editorial observed that the Bihar verdict mirrored a previous trend seen in Maharashtra, noting that the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which anticipated a stronger outcome in Maharashtra, failed to secure even 50 seats, paralleling the Bihar outcome where the Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav faced a severe defeat.

While acknowledging Tejashwi Yadav and his coalition's vigorous campaign, the editorial alleged that the ruling party still achieved a significant victory.

Reflecting on the scale of the NDA's win, the editorial stated, “Indian democracy has also collapsed, unconscious on Bihar’s soil.”

The commentary criticized what it termed the excessive involvement of national political figures and resources in Bihar, noting the participation of one Prime Minister, numerous Chief Ministers, ministers, and legislators from various states in the campaign, alongside the utilization of financial incentives and administrative power.

It pointed out that the Prime Minister had transferred ₹10,000 into the bank accounts of countless women in Bihar just before the polls, repeatedly urging them at campaign events, “I will send the next installment right away, vote for BJP.” The editorial claimed this had a noticeable impact on the final results in Bihar.

It further suggested that “the BJP will govern Bihar by appointing a compromised Chief Minister.” The commentary noted that the party had two Deputy Chief Ministers who had not been promoted previously but might now see an opportunity.

If given the chance, they would not hesitate to “marginalize Nitish Kumar, take control of his party, and secure the Chief Minister’s position.”

The editorial also questioned the effectiveness of the “Voting Rights Yatra” led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, noting the public's favorable reception of the campaign, yet expressing skepticism about how votes were counted. It criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming even his allies have grown doubtful of him, questioning how someone perceived as inconsistent in public life could keep leading the state.

“How will such a compromised individual advance Bihar?” the editorial queried.

It remarked that the BJP had consistently endorsed Nitish Kumar as its Chief Ministerial candidate, yet the party had now won more seats than its ally. This dynamic could lead to further political upheaval in Bihar, with the broader implications of the Bihar results on national politics yet to be determined.

The editorial posed the question of whether the Bihar verdict would impede the larger effort to “safeguard democracy, Parliament, and constitutional institutions like the Election Commission in this nation.”

It concluded by stating that those in power tend to announce new development promises whenever elections approach, launching schemes aimed at addressing unemployment and poverty while influencing voters through direct cash transfers. It accused the Election Commission of “silently observing all this,” noting that similar trends were evident in Lok Sabha, Assembly, and local elections.