Mumbai, Jun 17 (PTI) With the speculation about an imminent split in the Shiv Sena (UBT) intensifying, the ally Congress on Wednesday said the development was an insult to the people’s mandate and betrayal of the opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said the opposition fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly against the BJP to “protect the Constitution”, but some MPs elected on this anti-BJP platform were now choosing to side with the ruling side.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said the “six rebel MPs” were betraying the entire MVA alliance of the Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
“The people had voted against the BJP, but these MPs have disregarded that mandate and gone and sat in the BJP’s lap,” said Gaikwad, the Mumbai North Central MP, referring to reports that several of the nine Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members were about to exit.
The BJP’s political strategy was to split opposition leaders, and, if that failed, to break entire parties and poach elected representatives, the Congress leader said.
The developments in the Shiv Sena (UBT) were a “grave insult” to democracy and the electorate, said Gaikwad.
“Those for whom we campaigned day and night have betrayed the trust reposed in them,” the Congress leader said, while condemning the BJP and those who were “part of a conspiracy to undermine democracy.” She also appealed to the defecting MPs to respect the sentiments of the people and act according to their conscience.
Sapkal accused the “six rebel MPs” of the Shiv Sena (UBT) of betraying not only Uddhav Thackeray but the entire MVA.
“People elected these MPs by voting against the ruling Mahayuti, and this amounts to a breach of that trust. Such traitors will be taught a lesson by the people,” Sapkal said in a statement.
The six MPs had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as candidates of the opposition alliance and received support from workers of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP-SP, he said.
“Congress, NCP SP and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers campaigned for them and stood by them despite threats and inducements. Their rebellion is an insult to all those workers and voters who placed their trust in them,” Sapkal said.
Alleging that the MPs succumbed to monetary inducement, he said, “People who become subservient for money cannot serve the public. Those who can be bought with money ultimately belong to no one.” The Congress leader also accused the ruling BJP of undermining democratic and constitutional values.
“The BJP has trampled upon democracy and constitutional principles and is running a regime where it believes whatever it does becomes law. Power is its sole objective,” he said.
Elections had turned into a “money power spectacle”, Sapkal said, adding that if the BJP failed to secure victory electorally, it attempted to “buy winning candidates or get nominations cancelled with the help of the Election Commission”.
Institutions such as legislatures, Parliament or courts were not delivering justice and the BJP had established control over them, he claimed. PTI MR KRK
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