Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 29: The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of indirectly helping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15.
Speaking to IANS, Shiv Sena (UBT) national spokesperson Anand Dubey alleged that the Congress had weakened Opposition unity at a critical moment by choosing to contest the civic polls independently. He claimed that the party’s decision effectively positioned it as a “B-team” of the BJP in Mumbai.
Dubey argued that the Congress had previously benefited from its alliance with the Shiv Sena but later distanced itself once it regained political footing.
According to him, the Congress used the association to revive its presence and then abandoned the partnership, a move he said would cost the party dearly in the upcoming elections. He predicted that the Congress would struggle to make any significant impact in Mumbai and would be reduced to a marginal presence in the civic body.
Continuing his criticism, Dubey questioned the organisational strength of the Congress in the city, asserting that it lacks a solid grassroots base. He maintained that the party is unlikely to win more than a handful of seats in the municipal elections, claiming that its presence in Mumbai politics is largely symbolic rather than substantive.
Dubey also targeted AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, accusing him of indirectly benefiting the BJP through his political statements. Reiterating Shiv Sena (UBT)’s stand on the BMC mayoral post, Dubey said the party is confident that the next mayor will come from its ranks and will reflect the party’s traditional voter base.
His remarks followed comments by Pathan suggesting that a woman wearing a hijab could become mayor, a statement that sparked sharp reactions from the Shiv Sena (UBT). Dubey criticised such remarks as provocative and unnecessary in the charged pre-election atmosphere.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, will be held in a single phase on January 15, 2026. The results are scheduled to be declared on January 16, with the outcome expected to significantly shape the state’s political landscape ahead of future elections.