New Delhi: The Shiv Sena Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, saying its current leadership has sidestepped ethics and principles to grab power in Maharashtra.
“Why did the BJP become so desperate to form a government in Maharashtra? To indulge in such unethical means, setting aside all principles is unfortunate for the disciples of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Syama Prasad Mookerjee,” said an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana.
The party also said BJP “murdered” the country’s Constitution by trying to form a government illegally and through corrupt means, and had made a pretence of observing the Constitution Day Tuesday. The Supreme Court’s decision, ordering for a floor test in Maharashtra assembly, is a slap on the face of those who indulged in “money” and “muscle power”, the editorial said.
“The fact that this decision of the Supreme Court came on the Constitution Day and it gave a rude shock to those who carry out politics of money and muscle power is a happy coincidence,” it added.
Also read: Devendra Fadnavis wanted to do a Yediyurappa & quit on the floor of House, but BJP said no
‘Fadnavis committed two crimes’
The editorial raised questions on the role of Maharashtra Governor B.S. Koshyari too. The Sena, NCP and Congress had, in a joint petition to the Supreme Court, challenged the governor’s “arbitrary and mala fide actions” (sic) for “installing a minority BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis” in Maharashtra.
“People were already questioning his intentions and Tuesday morning even the Supreme Court raised questions on the policy and intentions of the governor. The moment directions for a floor test was given, it became apparent that (Devendra) Fadnavis’ government will have to go,” it said.
The editorial went on to say, “Ajit Pawar ne aakhiri kshano mein apna vastraharan rok liya, lekin BJP to puri tarah nagna ho gayi (Ajit Pawar managed to save himself from getting stripped but BJP stands completely exposed now).”
The Sena also said former chief minister Fadnavis has committed two “crimes” — first, forming a government without a majority and with the support of Pawar, and second, closing all corruption cases against the NCP leader.
The editorial also added that BJP could not do in Maharashtra what it had “managed to do in other states”.
‘What will ED and income tax workers of BJP do now’
Maintaining that Sena doesn’t have any personal enmity with the BJP, the editorial also said it was important to set the party’s record straight since Fadnavis had earlier accused it of being “power-hungry”.
“Had the BJP not been power-hungry and acted on their promise, it wouldn’t have been in the situation that it is now. You wanted to paint Sena as a liar but for the stability of Maharashtra…we three (NCP-Sena-Congress) have come together to form a government. In 2014, the BJP had to take the help of NCP to come to power…. why raise questions when we are doing the same now?” the Sena mouthpiece asked.
The editorial also criticised the BJP for using government machinery to harass the Opposition. “After the court said there will be no secret ballot and a live telecast of the floor test, all those who were hoping to break the MLAs and lure them had no other option left. What will the ‘ED’ and ‘income tax’ workers of BJP do now?”
The apex court had directed that the floor test would be held through the open ballot and there would be live telecast of the entire proceedings in the Maharashtra assembly.
Also read: Behind Ajit Pawar’s call to resign — a nudge from ‘Pratibha tai’, Sharad Pawar’s wife
A lot of Teflon has melted in eighty hours.