Shiv Sena’s Victory in Mumbai Lok Sabha Seats Tied to Fatwas, Claims Deepak Kesarkar
Mumbai, 6th June 2024: Deepak Kesarkar, a Maharashtra minister and staunch supporter of Eknath Shinde, made significant assertions regarding the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s success in the Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai. Kesarkar suggested that certain religious edicts, commonly known as fatwas, contributed to the electoral victories of the rival Shiv Sena in Mumbai.
Under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena secured victory in 7 out of the 15 Lok Sabha seats it contested in Maharashtra. Within Mumbai’s 6 Lok Sabha seats, the Shiv Sena (UBT) secured victory in 3, while the Congress, BJP, and another faction of Shiv Sena each claimed one seat.
Kesarkar claimed that the issuance of fatwas played a role in the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s success in Mumbai. He speculated that without the support of minority voters, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates would have faced defeat by substantial margins, possibly over 1-1.5 lakh votes each.
Furthermore, Kesarkar alleged that Muslim voters perceived Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership as a departure from the traditional Hindutva ideology and the principles espoused by Bal Thackeray. He accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of falsely asserting that Marathi voters were not backing the party under Shinde’s leadership.
Kesarkar asserted that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena garnered support from both Mumbaikars and Marathi voters, dismissing claims to the contrary. He went on to allege a conspiracy originating in Pakistan aimed at undermining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, citing purported endorsements of Modi’s defeat by two Pakistani ministers. Kesarkar claimed that certain individuals in India were swayed by these external influences.
Additionally, Kesarkar accused the opposition of misleading Dalit communities with false claims about changes to the Constitution.
In the electoral outcome, the BJP-led NDA fell short of its target of 45-plus seats, securing only 17 seats. Conversely, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), emerged victorious in 31 out of the 28 seats in Maharashtra.
