Maharashtra politics: BJP no longer the party it was during Vajpayee's time, says Shiv Sena (UBT)

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Firing a fresh salvo at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday again dubbed him "tainted" and accused him of doing dirty advocating for those who are causing cultural impoverishment of the state, reported news agency PTI.

According to PTI, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Shiv Sena (UBT) asked Fadnavis to explain whether Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel and Hasan Mushrif who have joined his government are tainted or clean.

The Enforcement Directorate in the past has raided Pawar and Mushrif in alleged money laundering cases.

It also asked about the status of cases against MLAs of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena who are being probed by the ED.

"Those who are unaware of Maharashtra's culture and traditions are in power. Fadnavis is doing dirty advocating for those who are causing cultural impoverishment of the state. This is why he is tainted," the editorial said, reported PTI.

It said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is no longer the party it was during the time of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and even its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not of real Sangh ideals.

Addressing his party workers in Nagpur, the home turf of Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said Fadnavis, his former ally, was a taint on the city as he had aligned with a section of the NCP despite asserting that he would never do so.

Playing an old audio clip of Fadnavis stating that he would never join hands with the NCP, Thackeray said the BJP leader's no means yes.

The tainted remarks evoked sharp reactions from BJP leaders. Fadnavis on Tuesday hit back at Thackeray and said the former CM needs some psychiatric treatment due to the ongoing political situation in the state.

CM Eknath Shinde said those who abandoned Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's ideals and "tainted" his name are calling Fadnavis "tainted".

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday took a veiled swipe at the Eknath Shinde faction by claiming some people were using the name of Bal Thackeray as they know Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name will not work in Maharashtra.

Addressing his party workers in Nagpur, the former chief minister asked them to reach out to people of the state and apprise them of the misdeeds of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which he claimed was taking the country towards dictatorship.

(With inputs from PTI)