Mumbai: Shiv Sena UBT staged a massive protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park in Dadar on Monday, targeting the Mahayuti government over alleged corruption involving its ministers. Several supporters of Uddhav Thackeray gathered near the public park, raising slogans and demanding the dismissal of what they called 'tainted and corrupt' ministers.
Videos shared on the party’s official social media handles showed protestors holding bundles of cash and bags, symbolising the alleged corruption by Mahayuti ministers. In a post on X, the party wrote, “The Mahayuti government’s tainted and corrupt ministers must be sacked! | Maharashtra Jan Aakrosh Andolan.”
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had earlier announced state-wide protests on Monday, alleging large-scale corruption during the tenure of the previous Eknath Shinde-led government. Demonstrations began at 12 noon outside all district collector offices, while Thackeray himself led the central protest at Shivaji Park, accompanied by senior leaders of the party. In Mumbai, protests were also staged outside various government offices.
Allegations Against Former Ministers
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In an official statement, Sena UBT accused former minister Sanjay Rathod of being involved in a Rs 60-crore scam, Dhananjay Munde of irregularities in Rs 1,500-crore procurement deals, and Manikrao Kokate of causing losses in oilseed procurement. The party further alleged that then deputy chief minister, now chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis ignored repeated complaints about these corruption cases.
“Instead of safeguarding public money, ministers are busy filling their own coffers,” the statement said. It added that the ongoing agitation aimed to expose “corrupt and anti-people” policies of the Mahayuti and to alert citizens about how their tax money was allegedly being looted.
Political Backdrop
The protest also comes in the wake of a political storm triggered by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar’s recent claim that he was approached before the Assembly elections by two individuals who offered to secure 160 seats in Maharashtra for him.
Pawar’s statement followed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations in Delhi regarding irregularities in the voting process and his promise to present evidence. Calling Gandhi’s allegations “serious,” Pawar demanded that the Election Commission, and not the BJP, conduct a detailed probe into the matter.
Shiv Sena UBT leaders said the protests would continue across Maharashtra until their demands for ministerial resignations and a thorough investigation into the alleged scams are met.
