Mumbai, Oct 24 (NationPress) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday criticized the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena for its ongoing assertions about maintaining dominance in the imminent elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“Mumbai belongs to us” and “Mumbaikars stand with us” are claims made by the Uddhav Thackeray faction, as if their name is inscribed in Mumbai's land records. Yet, the truth is that the strength of Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray in Mumbai has significantly dwindled over the years,” remarked Keshav Upadhye, the state BJP chief spokesperson. He highlighted that a glance at some statistics starkly reveals the decline faced by the Thackeray faction.

“Reviewing the past five municipal elections, while 112 to 115 seats are necessary for a majority, Uddhav’s group has not secured a majority in the last thirty years, not even coming close to the century mark, achieving this only once. In their struggle to gain power, the Uddhav Thackeray faction ought to reflect on certain statistics. Out of the last five elections, only once, in 1997, did the Thackeray group manage to elect just over 100 corporators, merely 103. While this was Shiv Sena’s peak in the past 30 years, it was still far from a majority in the BMC,” he stated in his post on X.

“Subsequently, starting from the 2002 municipal elections, the decline has persisted. In 2002, Uddhav Thackeray’s party’s tally fell to 97. In the 2007 election, it dropped further to 84 seats, while MNS secured 7 seats. In 2012, Uddhav’s group fell even further, managing to elect only 75 corporators in the BMC. MNS, in contrast, won 27 seats,” he stated.

“Proclaiming ‘We suffered in alliance with BJP,’ Uddhav Thackeray sounded the alarm for the 2017 municipal election, yet the number of corporators barely reached 84. Of the MNS, whose praises are currently being sung, six out of seven corporators were poached,” Upadhye noted.

“In essence, regardless of their boasting, Uddhav’s group consistently fails to surpass the range of 75 to 85 corporators. And this is only due to their alliance with BJP! Today, Balasaheb Thackeray’s loyal Shiv Sainik stands with Eknath Shinde. The empty seats at the recent Dussehra rally made it evident that neither soldiers nor the public are aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray camp,” claimed Upadhye.

Upadhye also directed criticism at Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, suggesting that he should continue speaking, as whatever predictions he makes, they invariably turn out to be false.

“Raut stated that the two Thackerays would create magic (in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections). However, within just two days, fractures within the Maha Vikas Aghadi appeared. The Congress declared that it does not wish to contest the BMC elections alongside Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. Now, the Samajwadi Party is also expected to exit the MVA. There, the Sharad Pawar faction plays no significant role. So, Sanjay Raut, you must keep on talking,” he added.