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| Shivsena (Shinde Faction) Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar. (HT Photo) |
Mumbai (REPORTLINE) : On Wednesday, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar attributed the victory of rival Shiv Sena (UBT) to "fatwas," claiming that Muslim voters were convinced that former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had "forsaken" Hindutva ideologies. According to Kesarkar, these "fatwas" played a crucial role in securing seats for Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai. He further asserted that if we deduct minority votes, every Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate would have faced defeat by a margin of over 1-1.5 lakh votes.
Kesarkar also highlighted a shift in the political landscape over the past two days, suggesting that Marathi voters in Maharashtra are not wholeheartedly supporting Shiv Sena. Additionally, he raised concerns about a conspiracy originating in Pakistan aimed at undermining Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Two ministers in Pakistan advocated for Modi's defeat, and unfortunately, some individuals here paid heed to their calls," Kesarkar stated.
The opposition's tactics also came under scrutiny. Kesarkar pointed out that the Dalit communities were misled by false claims that the Constitution would be changed. Meanwhile, the Maratha movement sparked debates on the Maratha versus OBC dynamics, influencing election outcomes in certain areas. As a result, key leaders of the grand alliance suffered defeats, prompting further analysis.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured seven out of the 15 parliamentary seats it contested in Maharashtra. In the Mumbai region's six Lok Sabha seats, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won three, while the Congress, BJP, and Shiv Sena each secured one seat. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar), secured 31 out of the 48 seats in Maharashtra. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA fell significantly short of its goal, winning only 17 seats in the state.
Notably, the ruling Mahayuti coalition, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, managed to secure just one seat in the Marathwada region—the epicenter of the Maratha agitation.
