TMC-Cong Cold War | ‘Biggest Threat’, Says Shiv Sena On Attempt To Relegate Congress In National Politics

The Shiv Sena editorial opined that although the decline of the Congress over the last decade is a cause of concern, plans to further push the party down and occupy its space are dangerous.

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New Delhi: Amid the tussle between Trinamool Congress and Congress, the Shiv Sena on Saturday questioned the attempts to relegate the grand old party’s prominence in national politics in a bid to create an opposition alliance parallel to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

According to Shiv Sena, this is akin to strengthening the ruling BJP and the “fascist” forces, reported news agency PTI. 

Shiv Sena, in an editorial in the party mouthpiece “Saamana”, stated that those who don’t want a Congress-led UPA should make their stand clear publicly, instead of creating confusion by talking behind back. 

If those people who are fighting BJP feel that Congress should cease to exist, then this attitude is the “biggest threat”, the party wrote.

It stressed that if there is no unity among the opposition parties, then the talk of creating a political alternative to the BJP should stop. 

“After Mamata Banerjee’s Mumbai visit, the opposition parties have swung into action. There is a consensus on creating a strong alternative to the BJP, but there is a lot of discussion happening on who is to be taken along and who is to be kept away from this alliance. But if there is no unanimity, nobody should talk about taking on the BJP. Leadership is a secondary issue, but there should at least be a decision on coming together,” Shiv Sena, which shares power with Congress and the NCP in Maharashtra, stated. 

“One can understand that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP work for the defeat of the Congress since it is a part of their agenda. But if even those who are against Modi and the BJP wish ill of the Congress, then it is the biggest threat,” it stressed in the “Saamana” article, as quoted by PTI. 

The Shiv Sena editorial opined that although the decline of the Congress over the last decade is a cause of concern, plans to further push the party down and occupy its space are dangerous.

The Maharashtra ruling party’s remarks come in the wake of CM Mamata Banerjee’s recent visit to Mumbai, in which she made a cryptic statement that “there is no UPA now”. 

On Friday, TMC mouthpiece “Jago Bangla” in its tirade against the grand old party, said that Congress has gone into a “deep freezer”.

“Jago Bangla” had earlier claimed that Mamata Banerjee, and not Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has emerged as the face of the opposition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena also commented on poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s recent tweet where he wrote that Congress leadership is not the “divine right” of an individual. 

“Prashant Kishor has made this historic remark that Congress did not have the divine right to lead the opposition. No one had got divine rights. Earlier, the BJP was ridiculed that it was born to permanently sit on the opposition benches, but despite the criticism the party has now scaled new heights,” the editorial read. 

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party stressed that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are putting up a fight facing all challenges and ridicule. The Congress party’s bad luck is that those who grew politically because of it are now trying to stifle it, Sena commented. 

About Mamata’s “UPA doesn’t exist” remark, the Sena said: “Just like UPA, NDA doesn’t exist. The BJP doesn’t need NDA, but the opposition parties need UPA. Creating an alliance parallel to UPA is like strengthening the BJP.” 

On UPA’s leadership, the party demanded that those who don’t want a Congress-led UPA should make their stand clear publicly and not create confusion by talking behind back. 

“Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should also speak about what they plan to do with the UPA. Those who want a strong alliance of opposition parties should take initiative to strengthen the UPA. Even though there may be differences with the Congress, the UPA can still materialise,” Shiv Sena wrote.
 
It further added that those who want a strong opposition front to emerge in the country, should come forward to strengthen the UPA by taking the Congress along.

(With Agency Inputs)