New Delhi, January 24 – In a scathing attack, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil has branded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not just as a political outfit, but a grave danger to India, Maharashtra, and especially Mumbai. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Patil accused the BJP of shredding the country’s social fabric and distorting the political culture of Maharashtra’s financial capital.
Patil questioned the autonomy of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asserting that Shinde’s position is a BJP puppetry rather than a result of personal merit or popularity. ‘Can a pawn dictate moves before the king? BJP has merely created a faction,’ he remarked, casting doubt on any new political alliances led by Shinde.
Turning to Mumbai, Patil emphasized the city’s merit-based ethos. ‘Mumbai runs on talent and virtue. If you have qualities, you have everything. This city belongs to all, and the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to live and thrive here,’ he said.
The Congress leader leveled serious charges against the BJP for fomenting divisions along lines of language, region, religion, caste, and gender. ‘Their goal is to keep people fighting so no one questions real issues like Dharaavi’s future, choking traffic, failed waste management, and pothole-ridden roads,’ Patil charged.
He urged Mumbaikars to focus on these core civic woes that truly reflect the city’s and state’s plight. As Chief Spokesperson and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Patil’s words carry weight in the ongoing political tussle. With elections looming, this rhetoric signals escalating Congress-BJP hostilities.