Hindutva plank for BMC polls, Fadnavis hints

Devendra Fadnavis, ex-CM

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis drew a parallel between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he launched a veiled attack on the BJP's former ally - Shiv Sena.

Addressing a party event in the city on Sunday, the leader of opposition in the state legislative assembly said that the legendary Hindu warrior worked selflessly for the welfare of the nation, state and espoused the ideology of "Hindavi Swaraj". Fadnavis said, "Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji too is working selflessly to make India a better nation."

Fadnavis's speech to charge party workers clearly hinted that Mumbai will witness more war of words between Sena-BJP over Hindutva, as BMC elections inch closer. Launching a veiled attack on the Sena for putting Hindutva on the back seat and joining hands with Congress-NCP to keep BJP away from forming the government in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said, "After Ram Mandir, now it's time for revamp of Kashi Vishwanath temple. On the lines of Ram Mandir construction at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, one would witness similar movement on Kashi temple front too."

On Monday Modi inaugurated phase one of the Kashi Vishwanath dham in Varanasi. During his speech, the PM too mentioned the Maratha king. "Invaders attacked the city and tried to destroy it. But our country is such that here if an [Mughal emperor] Aurangzeb comes, a [Maratha warrior] Shivaji also rises," Modi said.

Ahead of the BMC elections, Fadnavis attended a slew of party functions in western suburbs including BJP's bastion - Borivali and Kandivali. BJP legislator Atul Bhatkalkar said, "With Sena drifting away from Hindutva and joining hands with Congress-NCP, many upset Sena followers are now openly supporting the BJP."

Sunil Rane, the BJP MLA from Borivali, admitted that political fireworks would be intensified in coming days. "Sundar Mumbai, Swachh Mumbai was a famous tagline of the city. But, the ground situation is completely different. Citizens are fed up with the quality of roads, bad footpath conditions and other civic issues. Basically BJP is questioning the misrule of Sena. Our fight is not against any individual or party. BJP is raking up issues that concern citizens. Our aim is to change the rule in the BMC and show the difference by giving better civic services."

Mumbai civic elections are slated in early 2022. In 2017, the Sena and BJP had contested the polls separately. Of the 227 seats in the corporation, Sena had bagged 84 and BJP won 82. With the support of independent and six MNS corporators switching to it, Sena retained the power in the BMC.

Meanwhile, a senior Sena leader on condition of anonymity rejected the charges over Hindutva. "BJP had joined hands with PDP to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP should not forget that before commenting on Sena's Hindutva."