Uddhav Thackeray Calls BJP Babar Janata Party at Parbhani Rally
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a public rally in Parbhani, Maharashtra, on Sunday, calling the ruling party the "Babar Janata Party" and claiming that the defection of his party's MPs was a targeted move to sideline Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Thackeray addressed the crowd in Parbhani as part of his tour of Lok Sabha constituencies where sitting MPs rebelled against his leadership. Parbhani's Lok Sabha MP, Sanjay Jadhav, is one of six MPs who left Thackeray's faction to join the rival Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
During his speech, Thackeray accused the BJP of exploiting the Ram temple in Ayodhya for political and financial gain. He stated that his version of Hindutva represents nationalism, inclusivity, and fair prices for farmers, contrasting it with the BJP's actions, which he termed "plundering" the temple.
Thackeray also reframed the defection of his party's MPs, which some have called "Operation Tiger." He claimed it was actually "Operation Devendra Fadnavis," orchestrated by the BJP's national leadership to clip the wings of the Deputy Chief Minister. Thackeray drew parallels to Madhya Pradesh, where former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sidelined.
Describing a flight he shared with Fadnavis, Thackeray claimed the Deputy Chief Minister looked helpless and lacked confidence because he understood his own party bosses were undermining him. He added that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had similarly had his influence diluted.
Addressing the political history of Parbhani, Thackeray reminded the audience that voters in the constituency have historically elected candidates chosen by the Shiv Sena based on Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy, rather than any national wave. He criticized the rebel MP, Sanjay Jadhav, for betraying the party to align with the BJP.
Thackeray concluded by questioning the delay in the Supreme Court's decision regarding the party-split case, which has been pending for four years. He argued that two-thirds of elected representatives cannot legally merge a party on their own and urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to follow the law and disqualify the rebel members.
