New Delhi buzzed with political heat on January 24 as Congress leader Atul Londhe Patil branded the BJP a clear and present danger to the country, Maharashtra, and above all, Mumbai. His pointed IANS comments accuse the ruling party of unraveling India’s social tapestry and reshaping Maharashtra’s politics in its image.
Patil dismissed Shinde’s clout in alliance talks: ‘Not built on public support or achievements, his deputy CM post is BJP’s making. A pawn can’t outmaneuver the king or act alone – BJP just assembled a splinter group.’
Celebrating Mumbai’s core values, he said, ‘Talent and integrity power this city. With them, success follows. It’s a shared space, constitutionally open to all for living and advancing.’
The sharpest barbs targeted BJP’s alleged polarization playbook: sowing discord via language, province, religion, caste, and gender divides. ‘This keeps eyes off essentials – Dharaavi’s destiny, traffic gridlock, waste woes, pothole plagues,’ he highlighted.
‘People should zero in on these ground-level crises painting the true picture of our city and state,’ Patil advocated. Serving as Maharashtra Congress chief spokesperson and general secretary, his intervention fuels the narrative of BJP as the villain in Mumbai’s story, setting the stage for fierce electoral showdowns.