Shiv Sena (UBT) Accuses Centre of Undermining Democracy Amid CEC Row and Protests

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has accused the Centre of undermining democratic institutions and suppressing dissent, criticising the handling of Opposition protests over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and allegations of electoral manipulation.

In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana on Saturday, the Thackeray camp alleged that the ruling establishment was shielding the CEC instead of addressing accusations of electoral irregularities. It described such protection as a “betrayal of the nation” and said the controversy had intensified the political confrontation between the Opposition and the BJP-led government.

The editorial also alleged that authorities had applied different standards to demonstrations by Opposition leaders and BJP supporters. It claimed Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were dragged and manhandled by police during protests at Jantar Mantar, while BJP Mahila Morcha activists demonstrating outside the Congress headquarters faced no comparable action.

The party further alleged that the government planned to deploy around two lakh armed Bajrang Dal members at Jantar Mantar to suppress the Opposition’s youth-led “cockroach” movement. The claim was made in the editorial and was not independently substantiated in the material provided.

Questioning restrictions on demonstrations, the editorial said Delhi Police had denied formal permission for protests, while trains heading towards the national capital were cancelled en route and young people travelling to participate in demonstrations were intercepted and arrested.

The Thackeray camp argued that using political groups or what it termed “private armies” against lawful protests could lead to anarchy and civil unrest. It accused the government of relying on intimidation rather than addressing the Opposition’s concerns through political accountability.

Referring to remarks by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Abraham Lincoln’s democratic principles, the editorial said free elections, transparent administration and responsible governance were being weakened under the present dispensation.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) warned that the confrontation over the Election Commission and restrictions on public demonstrations reflected growing concerns about the functioning of democratic institutions. Its allegations formed part of the party’s broader criticism of the Centre’s response to the Opposition’s campaign against Gyanesh Kumar.