Mumbai, Dec 1 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has fiercely criticized the Eknath Shinde-led faction, forecasting that the party is headed for an “uncontrollable fire” that could lead to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) absorbing a minimum of 35 legislators.

The Thackeray camp, through an editorial in their official publication ‘Saamana’, interpreted state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan's recent comment — “Number 2 is all a lie. Number two has no value. Devabhau (Fadnavis) is everything” — as an indication that the BJP has effectively sidelined the Shinde faction.

According to the Thackeray camp, the BJP and Chavan have completely boxed in Shinde and his party members. The editorial accused the ongoing local body elections of deteriorating into a “game of money,” with votes allegedly valued between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 as partners in the MahaYuti alliance engage in mutual sabotage.

Highlighting instances of internal conflict, the editorial quoted former Shinde faction legislator Shahaji Patil, who expressed frustration by stating, “We are destined for slavery to the BJP.” Additionally, it noted a Shinde faction minister, Gulabrao Patil, boasting about his Urban Development portfolio and offering 'Lakshmi Darshan' (money) to voters during the campaigning.

“While Maharashtra grapples with numerous challenges, the Chief Minister and his two deputies are preoccupied with campaigning for municipal elections. The BJP and Shinde faction are engaged in mutual sabotage. Voters are being tempted with substantial cash offers, and those accepting the payments get ensnared and become ready to chant Zindabad (long live) slogans. They possess neither policies nor regulations — only a focus on money and the game of money. Ultimately, in these money-driven municipal elections, only a fraction of the funds, perhaps five to ten thousand, will actually reach the public,” it claimed.

The Thackeray camp criticized Shinde for his suggestion that the BJP should adhere to coalition 'dharma' or risk conflict, asserting that the Shinde faction lacks the moral fortitude for such a confrontation, categorizing them as political dependents of Amit Shah, reliant on the scraps they receive.

In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis proclaimed at rallies, “We possess ample ethics (‘niti’), intent (‘niyati’), and funding (‘nidhi’).”

Attacking the MahaYuti alliance, the editorial labeled the current political scenario in Maharashtra a “three-legged political system” or a “three-wheeled rickshaw,” terminology previously employed by the BJP to criticize the former Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

“Their own three-wheeled rickshaw government has arrived, and it appears overloaded and on the verge of collapse. Conflicts and disturbances have arisen due to the local body elections. The current 'rickshaw' is adrift and in danger of crashing. Competition in the local body elections has sparked fights and internal strife. Ravindra Chavan daily mocks Shiv Sena, yet the Shinde faction remains subservient to the BJP out of a thirst for power and fear of agencies like the ED,” the editorial commented.

The editorial cited several instances to illustrate the disputes and infighting between the BJP and the Shinde faction during the local body elections. In Konkan, a case was lodged against Shinde faction legislator Nilesh Rane. BJP supporters are reportedly assaulting Shiv Sena workers in various areas. The desperation of the Shinde faction is palpable as they repeatedly implore the BJP to “Follow the alliance dharma.”

The editorial ridiculed the Shinde faction’s assertion that no one dares to oppose them while the Modi-Shah duo is around, branding this belief as an illusion.

“Modi-Shah and BJP do not belong exclusively to anyone,” the editorial questioned. “Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray provided enormous support to Modi-Shah, yet they cannot remain aligned with the latter. So, where do the supporters of the Shinde faction stand?” asked Saamana.