Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in “power jihad” by allegedly breaking political parties to remain in government. Thackeray’s remarks came during an address to party workers in Pune on Saturday, as reported by PTI.
Thackeray also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for labeling him the head of the “Aurangzeb Fan Club.” He accused Shah of being the “political descendent” of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler who defeated the Marathas in the Battle of Panipat.
Thackeray further criticized the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over its ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme, accusing it of bribing voters with “revdis” (freebies). He stated, “If Muslims are with us after we explain to them our Hindutva, then we are (according to the BJP) the Aurangzeb Fan Club. Then what you are doing is power jihad,” according to PTI.
On July 21, during a BJP conclave in Maharashtra’s Pune, Amit Shah had called the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance an “Aurangzeb fan club,” alleging that Thackeray was its leader. Shah stated, “Maha Vikas Aghadi is Aurangzeb fan club. This Aurangzeb fan club cannot ensure India’s security. Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of this Aurangzeb Fan Club. This Fan Club cannot make Maharashtra and India safe. It’s only the BJP that can ensure the safety and security of all,” according to ANI.
Shah further alleged that “Uddhav Thackeray shares his meals with people involved with Kasab, he supports PFI and stands against renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar.”
This exchange marks another instance of Shah publicly criticizing Thackeray, accusing him of abandoning ideology for power during the Lok Sabha elections.
Uddhav Thackeray was forced to resign as chief minister in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion in the Shiv Sena, resulting in the collapse of his government. In February 2023, the Election Commission of India recognized the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena.
Elections for the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly are expected to take place later this year.