Thane UBT Faction Accuses BJP-Shiv Sena Coalition of Unfair Practices in Lok Sabha Elections

Thane, 6th June 2024: In Thane, the UBT faction criticized the BJP and Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, for allegedly engaging in unfair practices during the Lok Sabha elections, resulting in them falling short of their target of securing 45 constituencies. Kedar Dighe, the Thane UBT chief, denounced the Mahayuti coalition, accusing them of neglecting their electoral success and failing to ensure a fair electoral environment.

Dighe asserted that the BJP’s primary focus was on undermining Uddhav Thackeray and his party’s political influence, which ultimately backfired as the BJP only managed to secure nine seats, compared to 23 in the previous term. He alleged that Shinde utilized both muscle and financial power to undermine MVA candidates in the state, including UBT’s Rajan Vichare in Thane, who garnered over five lakh votes despite not having a single elected representative in the constituency.

In response, Uday Samant, the Industries Minister and a member of Shiv Sena, dismissed the allegations leveled by the UBT faction during an interaction with the media in Thane. Samant refuted the claims, including those related to the Mumbai North West seat, stating that it is a habit of the MVA and UBT to blame Shiv Sena for their defeat. He pointed out the inconsistency in their accusations, highlighting their silence on seats where their candidates emerged victorious. Samant urged them to reflect on their defeat instead of pointing fingers at others, questioning whether they were seeking a repoll in those constituencies.