BJP's Future In Maharashtra In Question: Opposition Leaders Strike Back At Amit Shah

On Wednesday, opposition parties in Maharashtra expressed strong disapproval of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent assertion that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will secure a majority in the state by 2029. This statement came during a meeting with BJP office bearers and party workers in Mumbai on Tuesday, where Shah claimed that the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition would form the government in Maharashtra later this year and then the BJP would govern independently in 2029.

Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and a member of the Rajya Sabha, dismissed Shah's comments as a 'dream defect' of the BJP. He questioned the feasibility of such a prediction, suggesting that the BJP's electoral prospects were declining.

"Amit Shah and the BJP are suffering from a drama defect disease. Before making such statements, Shah should consider whether his party will actually come to power in the 2029 Lok Sabha election. In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP managed to win only 240 seats. I predict that this number will drop to 140 by 2029. The BJP is facing losses in Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana, but what's wrong with dreaming? Let him dream," Raut stated.

He further emphasized that both Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi posed a threat to Maharashtra, alleging that their actions aimed to undermine the state's self-respect and exploit its resources.

Vijay Wadettiwar, the Opposition Leader in the Assembly, added to the criticism by stating that not only would the BJP lose the upcoming assembly elections, but they would also struggle in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2024. He asserted that the citizens of Maharashtra were disillusioned with the current state government, predicting that the BJP would not regain power for the next 10 to 15 years.

Ramesh Chennithala, the Congress state in-charge, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Shah's remarks stemmed from a lack of confidence in the BJP's ability to win in 2024. "The BJP is losing elections. That is why he is making statements about the 2029 assembly election," he said.

Jayant Patil, the state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), highlighted the BJP's weakened position in Maharashtra. "This is precisely why Amit Shah is holding frequent meetings in Maharashtra instead of focusing on Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, where assembly elections are currently taking place," he noted.

The opposition's united front against Shah's claims reflects a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the BJP's governance in Maharashtra, as they rally together to challenge the party's future prospects in the state.