Sena (UBT) takes a dig at Eknath Shinde, says ‘bear the fruits of your karma’

Uddhav Thackerayrsquos Shiv Sena UBT on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena amid reports of rising friction between the Shinde camp and the BJP reported news agency IANSIn a strongly worded editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana the party said the BJP ldquoneither takes the trouble to please you nor fears your displeasurerdquo suggesting that the Shinde faction enjoys little influence within the ruling alliance It further said the Shinde group must now ldquobear the fruits of your karmardquo calling the current turmoil a consequence of their 2022 defection from the original Shiv Sena reported IANSThe editorial alleged that the BJP is gradually working to weaken its allies including the Shinde faction and that ldquodissatisfaction within the Shinde camp is now out in the openrdquoBoycott of cabinet meeting sparks criticismThe remarks came after reports that several ministers from the Shinde camp had boycotted a state cabinet meeting reportedly unhappy with seatsharing arrangements and the BJPrsquos aggressive induction of local leadersTaking a swipe the Thackeray camp questioned whether the Shinde faction truly had the courage to challenge Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ldquoThe Shinde faction that says lsquowe are upsetrsquo in Mumbai and goes to Delhi to wash Amit Shahrsquos feet supposedly had an outburst of discontent and boycotted the cabinet meeting Do they really have the courage to boycott Fadnavisrsquos cabinetrdquo the editorial said reported IANSlsquoOperation Lotusrsquo and allegations of poachingThe Saamana editorial accused the BJP of poaching Shindeled Shiv Sena leaders even during ongoing local body elections It claimed the BJP is executing ldquoOperation Lotusrdquo not just against rivals but also against its own allies adding that the ldquotremors of poachingrdquo have rattled the Shinde camp reported IANSAccording to the editorial Shinde has enacted such ldquodiscontent dramasrdquo beforemdashsometimes by retreating to his farm in Satara and at other times by rushing to Delhi to seek intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah reported IANSIt said the Shinde camprsquos latest attempt at expressing displeasure fell flat as Fadnavis ldquodisarmed them with his signature smilerdquo and reminded them of their own history of poachingBJPrsquos lsquomultifaced characterrsquo says UBTThe editorial also questioned why BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule had to issue clarifications on alliance tensions instead of the Chief Minister It alleged the BJP was again displaying its ldquomultifaced characterrdquomdashone that embraces allies and later undercuts themIt added that while Fadnavis publicly says the Mahayuti alliance is unbreakable he simultaneously allows locallevel decisions that fuel divisionslsquoThose who betrayed their own house have no right to complainrsquoIn a direct attack on the Shindeled faction Saamana said ldquoThose who stabbed their own mother in the back for power have no moral right to protest against poaching or express angerrdquo It claimed the BJP is exploiting the factionrsquos vulnerability because ldquoyou have lost that right yourselfrdquo reported IANSThe editorial argued that the Shinde group had walked into the BJPrsquos trap and must now live with the consequences ldquoYou willingly trapped yourself in the invisible net under the lotus water That net will slowly strangle you as the lotus sways above When the BJP divided you you were joyous Now when the BJP is breaking your faction too what is the point of protesting reported IANSConcluding its attack the Thackeray camp said the Shinde camprsquos periodic displays of discontent have no effect on the BJP ldquoThe dust of your discontent is colourless Each time it rises it settles the same waymdashit never reaches the BJPrsquos eyesrdquoWith inputs from IANS