Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rout in the Karnataka elections, stating that it was an apt end for a government that always discriminated against the Marathi-speaking linguistic minorities residing in Karnataka’s border areas.
However, Mr. Thackeray stressed that his statement was in no way a criticism of his political ally, the BJP, but a condemnation of a particular government that meted out injustice and paid scant heed to the aspirations of the Marathi populace residing in the 865 disputed border villages in Karnataka, including those in Belgaum district of that state.
“The manner in which the BJP government had repeatedly dissolved the Belgaum City Corporation and had even inaugurated the Vidhan Soudha building there without awaiting the Supreme Court’s verdict on the disputed areas was deplorable,” said Mr. Thackeray, speaking to reporters here.
He congratulated the two newly elected legislators of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES).
“While it is true that people residing in the border areas have received a raw deal from both the Congress as well as the BJP, I’m hoping that the new government will consist of some sensitive people who will finally take note of the problems,” the Sena chief said.
However, Mr. Thackeray said that a defeat in a single State was no indication of the party’s performance in the upcoming Parliamentary polls. “Rest assured, the BJP will triumph in States like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where elections were due,” he said.
