Satara, March 21 Following the BJP's victory as the president of the Satara Zilla Parishad (ZP) in Maharashtra, despite defeating the Shiv Sena-NCP combine without having a majority, the Shiv Sena criticized the BJP, accusing it of "murdering democracy" and warning of severe consequences in future elections.
The election for the Satara Zilla Parishad (ZP) president was held on Friday.
Priya Shinde of the BJP was elected as the president of the local governing body, defeating the Shiv Sena-NCP candidate despite the latter having a majority. The BJP narrowly surpassed the Sena-NCP alliance's tally to win the top position.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sena minister Shamhuraj Desai, who is also the guardian minister of Satara, said, "They (the BJP) took two members each from the Shiv Sena and the NCP. We will initiate proceedings to disqualify them."
"The BJP may be happy about this victory for the moment, but there will be larger elections in the future. At that time, the Shiv Sena and NCP will take their respective positions," he warned.
"This (election) is condemnable and it is an act of murdering democracy. The consequences will be severe in the Satara district. Even I am a minister in the Mahayuti government, we have our party and have the right to work for it," Desai added.
The BJP may celebrate its victory, but the Shiv Sena-NCP alliance has secured a moral victory, he said.
The BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the NCP, headed by Sunetra Pawar, share power in Maharashtra as part of the Mahayuti government.
Desai also alleged that he was manhandled by the police during the election process on Friday, and vowed to raise the issue in the cabinet meeting next week.
"If ministers are being manhandled by the Satara police, then we strongly condemn this. The police are also acting as domestic help for the BJP," the minister said.