Mumbai: Shiv Sena UBT mouthpiece Saamana has criticised the BJP for reacting to the election of a Muslim mayor in Parbhani. The editorial termed the BJP’s response a total intelligence failure and accused the party of fuelling communal tension.
Syed Iqbal, a Muslim corporator from Shiv Sena UBT, won the Parbhani mayoral election with 39 votes. He defeated BJP candidate Tirumala Khillare by 13 votes. Congress corporator Ganesh Deshmukh became Deputy Mayor. Iqbal is the first Muslim mayor for any Shiv Sena faction in Maharashtra.
Saamana questioned why the BJP objected to Iqbal’s rise while praising its own Muslim figures in public life. The editorial referred to comments by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who said Muslims who accept local customs and culture are part of the national fold. It asked why BJP leaders ignore this position when reacting to Iqbal’s election.
The piece also cited the presence of Adnan Sami at RSS centenary celebrations and referred to Colonel Sophia Qureshi, who briefed the nation during Operation Sindoor. It alleged that the BJP projects select Muslim figures when convenient and attacks others for political gain.
Saamana argued that the BJP turns Hindutva into a political business. It said Maharashtra faces pressing issues and accused the BJP of diverting attention through communal rhetoric. The editorial urged political actors to respect democratic outcomes and avoid framing local civic polls as religious contests.
