BJP leader makes crass remark about Thorat's daughter; MVA leaders, Bawankule condemns comment
Mumbai, Oct 26: BJP leader Vasantrao Deshmukh allegedly made a derogatory remark against Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat's daughter, drawing flak from leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The saffron party has also condemned the remark, with Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule calling for action against Deshmukh.
State Congress chief Nana Patole said the filthy language used against Jayshree Thorat reflects the BJP's twisted mentality toward their so-called 'laadki bahin'.
Deshmukh, a long-time opponent of the Thorats, made the alleged remark at a programme organised by BJP leader Sujay Vikhe Patil at Sangamner in Ahilyanagar district on Friday.
Tensions erupted in the Sangamner as Congress workers and Thorat supporters protested by tearing down banners of Vikhe Patil.
Jayashree Thorat, a doctor by profession, has been campaigning for her father, who is seeking re-election from the Sangamner constituency for the ninth time.
Talking to reporters, Jayshree Thorat said, "What have I done that I am being spoken about in such a shameful manner? I have been campaigning for my father by organising youth conclaves in the constituency. Even if people who have spoken about me are opponents, there should be a standard for criticism."
When asked about the developments, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, who is in Mumbai, said his daughter was capable of handling the situation in Sangamner.
"My workers assured me that they will take care of Sangamner as the party had given me the responsibility of the state, and I should devote my time to it," he said.
He accused Vikhe Patil of being the brain behind Deshmukh's derogatory comments.
NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil condemned the BJP and Deshmukh, claiming that the remarks have exposed the saffron party's real face about women.
"On one hand, they speak of 'laadki bahin', and on the other hand, they use derogatory language against women," he said, warning that women will respond to such comments using the ballot box.
Sharing a video of Deshmukh's comments on 'X', Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray wrote, "Shameful! This is BJP's politics.. Should it be accepted?"
Maharashtra BJP president Bawankule said the party disapproved of the remark, and strict action would be taken against Deshmukh.
"The police should take appropriate steps. Jayshree is like our daughter even though we have political differences with her father," he said, adding that the party will not tolerate such insults and will take action.
Bawankule claimed Congress workers took advantage of the situation and attacked Sujay Vikhe Patil, who had nothing to do with the comments.
State Congress chief Patole said the ECI should also take note of the remarks and take action against Deshmukh and Vikhe Patil.
"Everyone has heard the real mentality of the BJP alliance, which claims to offer Rs 1,500 for votes in the name of the Ladki Bahin scheme. The language used by Deshmukh reflects the BJP's real attitude towards women," Patole said.
He claimed, "During the programme in Sangamner, Vikhe Patil's follower threatened that 'during the election, once we step into the battlefield, your daughter will not be able to step out of the house'. Vikhe Patil was present on the dias at the time. Only people from the BJP can use such language about women. This is their culture, as demonstrated by leaders ranging from Brij Bhushan to lower-level party workers."
गलिच्छ !
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
