A minor Hindutva flaunt by Uddhav faction causes heartburns in I.N.D.I. alliance, SP’s Abu Azmi threatens to do ‘breakup’

A big blow hit the opposition bloc, I.N.D.I. alliance when Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi announced on Saturday that his party had decided to withdraw from the alliance. Abu Azmi alleged that the Shiv Sena (UBT) had adopted a “Hindutva agenda.” Notably, the opposition bloc’s humiliating defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections may have prompted the Samajwadi Party to reconsider its association with the out-and-out unholy coalition. While the assembly strength is 288, the Samajwadi Party has only two MLAs in Maharashtra.

The Samajwadi Party’s decision comes after Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide, Milind Narvekar, allegedly praised the demolition of the disputed structure that was illegally built by Islamic invader Babar, in a newspaper advertisement.

“An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished Babri masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray) aide has also posted on X hailing the demolition of the mosque,” news agency PTI quoted Abu Azmi as saying.

After this incident, Abu Azmi issued a statement saying, “We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Singh Yadav”.

Further in the statement, the Samajwadi Maharashtra chief said, “There was no coordination in the MVA during seat sharing and later in the campaign, either. After the defeat in assembly polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, in an internal meeting, told his leaders and party workers to pursue the Hindutva agenda aggressively.

On December 6, the party posted a message on social media in favour of Babri mosque demolition. We cannot tolerate this. So, we have decided not to continue with MVA.”

MLC Milind Narvekar of the Sena (UBT) party uploaded a photo of the so-called Babri mosque’s demolition, along with a quote from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray: “I am proud of those who did this.”

The Shiv Sena (UBT) secretary also included photographs of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and himself in his tweet, which caused an angry response from the Maharashtra Samajwadi Chief.

At last, Azami said, “If anyone in the MVA speaks such language, what is the difference between the BJP and them? Why should we stay with them?”

It is pertinent to note that while the minor Hindutva flaunt by Uddhav faction leader has caused major heartburn in the I.N.D.I. alliance, UBT had ditched major causes of Hindutva including taking Hinduphobic Gaumutra jibes, bearing insult to freedom fighter Veer Damodar Savarkar, compromising on the legacy of Chhattrapati Shivaji Raje by trying to give an elevated peddlestal to Islamic butcher like Aurangzeb, and even going to the extent of supporting draconian and unconstitutionally established Waqf Board. If it were to retrace a full arc back to Hindutva plank, leaving its short-sighted political greed aside, it will be an emotional breakdown of an epoch for the I.N.D.I. alliance leaders and its ecosystem — a true death of failed Secularism project by a party built and nurtured by an Hindutva Icon, late Bala Saheb Thackeray.