The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Monday launched a sharp attack on its ally, the Congress party, accusing it of betrayal ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The accusation came after the Congress formalised a seat-sharing agreement with Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).
"Congress Has Backstabbed Us": UBT Leader's Furious Accusation
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey did not mince words while criticising the Congress, drawing a parallel with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) past actions. "Congress party has backstabbed us. BJP had backstabbed us earlier. This time, it will be a Congress-mukt Mumbai," Dubey stated. His comments highlight the deepening rift within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition as they prepare for the high-stakes civic polls.
Thackeray Cousins Reunite, Warning to Dissenters
Amidst the controversy, Dubey also commented on the significant political reunion between Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. He welcomed the alliance but issued a stark warning to those opposed to it, invoking imagery from the Indian epic Mahabharata. "MVA and INDI alliances were formed for the state government and the central government. This is the Mumbai Municipal Corporation election. In this, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are together. Those who are coming with us are welcome; those who are not — like in the Mahabharata — we will pierce them all with arrows," he added.
Details of the Congress-VBA Alliance for 227 Seats
The political storm was triggered on Sunday when the Congress and the VBA announced their partnership for the BMC polls. According to sources quoted by news agency PTI, the VBA, led by B.R. Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar, is set to contest 62 of the total 227 seats. The Congress will field candidates in more than 150 seats, while the remaining seats will be allocated to allies like the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and the Republican Party of India (Gavai faction). The Congress screening committee met on Sunday to finalise its list of candidates, which is expected to be announced soon.
This development marks a significant shift in Mumbai's political landscape, testing the cohesion of the MVA alliance at the local level. The BMC elections are seen as a critical battleground for all major parties in Maharashtra, with control of India's richest municipal corporation at stake. The public fallout between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress underscores the complex and often fragile nature of political partnerships in the state.
