In a sharp attack on an ally, former Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Sunday accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of being complicit with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in corruption during their long tenure governing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). He demanded that both parties jointly publish a white paper detailing all alleged wrongdoing in the civic body.
A Demand for Transparency on BMC Rule
Addressing election rallies in Nagpur, Patole did not mince words. He asserted that the BJP and Shiv Sena, who were partners in the BMC for years, are now engaged in a "fake wrestling show to entertain people." The Sakoli MLA insisted that the two parties must come clean before the public. "They ruled BMC for 25 years and all their wrongdoings should be exposed through a white paper," Patole stated firmly.
Specific Allegations and Evasion on Uddhav's Role
Patole levelled specific accusations of financial misappropriation in key civic projects. He claimed money was siphoned off "in the name of desilting, drainage work, [and the] smart city project." He linked this alleged corruption to Mumbai's economic challenges, stating, "That's why many businesses are moving out of the city."
When pressed repeatedly on whether he believed Uddhav Thackeray was personally complicit in the BMC corruption, Patole initially deflected. "Both of them were together and, therefore, they should not indulge in fake fighting," he said. Later, he clarified his stance, saying, "My issue is not that. You asked me about Mumbai, and that is why I said they were together. And then I questioned why these two are accusing each other now?"
Broader Accusation of BJP's 'Two-Faced Politics'
Expanding his critique, Patole also targeted the BJP over its stance on Mumbai. He cited a recent statement by a BJP leader from South India about Mumbai belonging to everybody. Patole alleged this was an attempt to delink the city from Maharashtra, calling it an example of the "two-faced politics which BJP indulges in over Mumbai." He claimed this exposed the BJP's conspiracy against the city once again.
The demand for a joint white paper puts the spotlight back on the contentious issue of governance and corruption in India's richest municipal corporation, creating fresh friction within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance ahead of crucial elections.
