BJP using money, power to win: Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Launching another attack on its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Bhandup civic by-poll results, the Shiv Sena on Saturday said that power and money are being used to “muzzle” opposition’s voice and elections are being won through “corrupt” means.  Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had already said that the BJP’s success was due to the “sympathy” wave.

The Bhandup by-poll was necessitated due to death of Congress corporator Pramila Patil, who passed away. BJP candidate Jagruti Patil defeated Shiv Sena’s Minakshi Patil by a big margin of 4,792 votes. Jagruti Patil bagged 11,129 votes, whereas Minakshi Patil received 6,337 votes.

“An environment is being created in the country where voices of opposition parties are being stifled. All possible corrupt means are being used to win elections. Power and money are being used to muzzle the opposition’s voice. This kind of environment is dangerous for the country, democracy and freedom,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

Questioning poaching of the candidates, the editorial said “Power is being used to induct people from other parties and field them to win elections. Is BJP’s victory in Bhandup by-poll pure? The Congress corporator there had died (which necessitated the polls), but a Congress family member was ‘adopted’ and fielded in the by-election.”

The Sena had also attacked the BJP for its failure in Nanded civic body polls. The Congress won 73 out of 81 seats. The BJP had poached corporators from Sena as well as Congress in Nanded.