MNS leader Deshpande accuses councilors of Uddhav group

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Tension after Panchayat and municipal elections in Maharashtra

Mumbai. After the recently concluded Panchayat and Municipal Body elections in Maharashtra, tension is coming to the fore again in the parties of the Thackeray family. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande on Thursday alleged that Shiv Sena (Ubhatha) councilors in Chandrapur have received Rs 1 crore each for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the mayoral elections. However, the Uddhav faction and BJP have rejected these allegations outright.

Tension between parties in Mahavikas Aghadi

Relations between the Congress and Shiv Sena (Ubatha), part of the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance, have been strained ever since the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation, yet a BJP candidate was elected mayor with the support of Shiv Sena (Ubatha) councillors.

MNS targeted

Raj Thackeray-led MNS Mumbai unit president Sandeep Deshpande took on the Uddhav faction. He said that when Shiv Sena (Ubhatha) supports BJP, it is justified, while MNS is blamed for similar support. He claims that in Chandrapur, every Shiv Sena (Ubhatha) councilor got Rs 1 crore, while an independent councilor was given Rs 50 lakh.

election alliance results

During the civic elections held in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (Ubhatha) and MNS contested together, but they could not stop the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance from succeeding in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Shiv Sena (Ubatha) Chandrapur district president Sandeep Girhe said that if Deshpande presented proof of his allegations, he would resign.

Sanjay Raut’s reaction

Deshpande also attacked Sanjay Raut, questioning whether Raut was unaware of the Chandrapur incidents or whether he deliberately tried to remain ignorant. Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said Deshpande’s allegations were being taken lightly, reflecting the growing differences between Shiv Sena (Ubhatha) and MNS. Sanjay Raut recently met MNS chief Raj Thackeray and said that Congress is responsible for this entire incident.