Kangana Ranaut, BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, criticized Uddhav Thackeray, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, following his party’s poor performance in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. Speaking in Delhi, Ranaut labeled Thackeray as a “daitya” (monster), attributing his defeat to his alleged disrespect for women.
Key Statements:
- Anticipated Defeat:
- Ranaut stated she had predicted Thackeray’s loss, citing viral social media reels where she distinguished between “daitya” (monsters) and “devta” (gods), emphasizing that disrespecting women leads to downfall.
- Personal Grievances:
- Ranaut recounted the 2020 demolition of her Mumbai home by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) during her conflict with Thackeray’s Shiv Sena-led government.
- She highlighted the Bombay High Court’s ruling, which called the demolition a “clear case of legal malice.”
- She alleged that foul language was used against her during this period, showcasing a loss of moral ground by the Shiv Sena leadership.
- Support for Women:
- Ranaut linked her criticism to the 33% reservation for women MPs in Parliament, introduced by the Modi government, advocating respect and empowerment for women in politics.
- Viral Video:
- Amid the election results, an old video of Ranaut addressing Thackeray after her home’s demolition resurfaced. In the video, she predicts his downfall, saying, “Today my home is broken, tomorrow your ego will be broken.”
Maharashtra Election Results 2024:
- The Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies in the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) faced a major rout:
- Shiv Sena (UBT): 20 seats
- Congress: 16 seats
- NCP (Sharad Pawar faction): 10 seats
- MVA total: 46 seats
- Ruling Alliance Victory:
- Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena: 57 seats
- BJP: 132 seats
- NCP (Ajit Pawar faction): 41 seats
- Mahayuti Alliance total: 230 seats
Significance:
The election marked a major defeat for the MVA bloc, reducing their influence in Maharashtra politics. The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) alliance’s victory highlights a significant shift in voter preference, consolidating power under the ruling coalition. Kangana Ranaut’s pointed criticism underscores the personal and political tensions that have defined the state’s political landscape.
