Mumbai: With campaigning for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic elections entering its final stretch, political rhetoric in Maharashtra has sharply intensified. On Monday, senior BJP leader and state minister Nitesh Rane made a controversial statement while addressing voters in Mumbai, directly targeting the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its leadership.
Speaking at a campaign event, Rane alleged that UBT leaders were dividing society for political gain and accused them of weakening Hindu unity. Using provocative language, he claimed that supporting UBT would indirectly benefit forces outside the country.
“A vote for UBT is a vote for their Pakistan Abba,” Rane said, drawing strong reactions from the crowd and across political circles.
Expanding on his remarks, the BJP minister accused UBT of using the Marathi identity as a political shield while allegedly creating divisions within the Hindu community. He alleged that internal divisions were being encouraged to satisfy interests beyond India’s borders, a claim likely to further polarize the already heated election atmosphere.
Rane reiterated his attack by stating that whether it is the UBT symbol or leadership, voting for them amounts to supporting people who, according to him, do not stand with Maharashtra’s interests. His remarks have added fuel to an already aggressive campaign season, where leaders from all parties are making last-minute efforts to mobilize voters.
The statement is expected to trigger strong reactions from the opposition, particularly Shiv Sena (UBT), which has repeatedly accused the BJP of resorting to divisive politics during elections instead of focusing on civic issues such as infrastructure, sanitation, housing, and governance in Mumbai.
The BMC elections, along with polls to other civic bodies across Maharashtra, are scheduled to be held in a single phase on January 15, with vote counting and results expected on January 16. As polling day approaches, political observers note that campaign discourse is becoming increasingly sharp, with national and identity-based narratives overshadowing local governance debates.
