Mumbai: In the run-up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, over 2,000 IndiGo airline employees joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at its state office in Mumbai on Tuesday. The induction was led by BJP state organiser Ravindra Chavan.

Many of these employees were previously associated with the Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, a labour union linked to the Shiv Sena (UBT). The move is seen as part of the BJP’s strategy to expand its influence among labour unions in Mumbai, which have traditionally been aligned with the Shiv Sena (UBT).

Labour unions in key sectors, including airports, MTNL, and the hotel industry, play a crucial role at the ground level during elections. The BJP has intensified efforts to bring these unions into its fold, with the induction of IndiGo employees being a part of this plan.

Speaking at the event, BJP executive president Ravindra Chavan said the party prioritises national interest and employee welfare. He highlighted the efforts of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard.

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Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.

In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.

Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.

Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.

According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.

He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.

He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.

Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.

He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.

Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.

He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.