Sena heavily trolled on social media for alliance with BJP
The Shiv Sena has found itself in the line of fire after its announcement of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While social media is flooded with messages making fun of the Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) put up a banner outside Sena Bhavan at Dadar, reminding leaders of their earlier statements. On the other hand, Narayan Rane has said that his party, the Maharashtra Swabhimani Paksh (MSP), will ensure the defeat of Shiv Sena candidates in all future elections.
Uddhav Thackeray’s ‘U’ turn has failed to go down well with people of the state. On Twitter and Facebook, the trolling was so heavy that the Marathi words ‘Swabal’ (own strength) and ‘Yuti’ (alliance) topped the trending list for most of the day. Hashtags like ‘FashivSena’ (army of deceivers), ‘LacharSena’ (army of the helpless), ‘Shiv Sena U Turn’ and ‘Golmal Returns’ too trended higher. Cartoons and memes showing the tiger (Shiv Sena's symbol) turn into a cat, too went viral.
The Sena had always compared the BJP national president Amit Shah to Afzal Khan (the Mughal leader who was killed by Chhatrapati Shivaji). Several memes on the Thackeray-Shah photographs showing them raising hands to announce the alliance asked whether Shivaji was now on Afzal’s lap.
Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut, also the executive editor of Saamna, the party mouthpiece, had criticised Modi and Shah through editorials. He was especially targeted on social media.
“Deepest condolences as we pay homage to the historic statement – ‘We shall kick the power’” said one of the memes. The NCP turned this meme into a hoarding and displayed it in front of the Sena Bhavan at Dadar on Tuesday.
Narayan Rane said, “The alliance is not for the benefit of the people, but for the benefit of Matoshree,” adding, “Uddhav Thackeray is a man who never keeps his word. That is now proved with the alliance and hence my party will ensure the defeat of Shiv Sena candidates in the forthcoming elections on every possible seat.”