The political temperature in Thane rose sharply on Monday as Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, launched a blistering attack on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of intimidation and misuse of the police machinery amid campaigning for the ongoing municipal corporation elections.
Reacting to a video shared by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Avinash Jadhav, Raut alleged that police personnel were being used to pressure opposition candidates. He claimed that candidates were being picked up from their homes, taken in police vehicles, and brought directly to Shinde’s residence in Thane.
“Such things do not happen without pressure or threats. Even if the police are acting in the course of duty, the visuals are extremely disturbing and dangerous for democracy,” Raut told reporters. Issuing a direct challenge, Raut accused Shinde of avoiding a fair political contest. “If Eknath Shinde has courage, he should fight openly. These backstabbing tactics do not suit a democratic system,” he said.
Sanjay Raut also expressed little faith in intervention by the Election Commission of India, alleging that the poll body would merely seek reports and delay action. “They will ask for explanations and sit on the matter. At this stage, the only option left is to approach the courts,” he said.
Accusing the ruling dispensation of acting out of fear, Raut said attempts were being made to prevent opposition candidates from even entering the electoral fray. “You may have taken our party and our symbol, but we are still fighting. Now you are so afraid of the mashal and the engine that you do not want opposition candidates to contest at all,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that money power or coercion could influence voters in Mumbai and Thane. “You cannot buy voters or abduct candidates and expect people to fall in line. The anger against this kind of dirty politics will be reflected clearly through the ballot box,” Raut added.
In a separate attack, Raut criticised the Election Commission for covering the statue of Balasaheb Thackeray in Mumbai during the election period, calling the decision “foolish”. He questioned why statues of leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee were not similarly covered.
“Balasaheb Thackeray is a national figure. Covering his statue makes no sense,” Raut said, alleging that fear of Balasaheb still lingered among Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “Covering a statue will not erase his influence when leaders across parties continue to invoke his legacy,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political tension in Thane, with opposition parties accusing the ruling alliance of attempting to skew the civic polls through intimidation and administrative pressure.
