BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban criticised an editorial published in today's edition of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena's Marathi language daily newspaper 'Saamna' and stated that Bihar election result is merely a trailer of what will inevitably unfold after the Maharashtra local civic body election results are announced.

Criticising the 'Saamna' editorial, BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban stated that, “Those who criticised the Election Commission in the 'Saamna' editorial must first read some history and reflect over it. If you have forgotten history due to the shock of the Bihar results, then let me remind you. Do you remember the Bihar elections of 2010?”

He added, “There was a Congress government at the Centre and the results were in Bihar. That election result was NDA: 206 seats, opposition Mahaghatbandhan: 25 seats, Others: 8 seats. Back then, voters had already defeated you. So, at least acknowledge the reasons for your defeat in a way the public will understand.”

"After reading today's 'Saamna' editorial, I realised that you (Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut) really need to take a break, and even more so, you need to introspect," BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban tweeted on his X account, commenting on an unsigned editorial believed to be written by Sanjay Raut, who is the executive editor of 'Saamna' daily.

"The people of Bihar rejected casteism and jungle rule and voted for Mangal Raj. Now, during elections in Maharashtra including Mumbai, the people will teach you a lesson once again. Bihar is merely a trailer and Mumbai will be the real deal," BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban stated.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena's Marathi language daily morninger has been renowned in Maharashtra for its popular editorials right from the time when its founder-editor the late Bal Thackeray used to pen stinging editorials. After Balasaheb's demise, the newspaper is presently run by its executive editor Sanjay Raut, who is also known to write its still popular editorials.

The BJP spokesperson's statement was a reaction to an editorial published in the Saturday edition of the 'Saamna' which stated that, "The BJP spread the lie that 'Nitish Kumar is our Chief Minister'. Now that BJP got more seats than Nitish Kumar in the Bihar assembly, will the BJP live up to its word? The BJP will rule Bihar by putting a disabled Nitish Kumar on the CM's chair. If they get an opportunity to make their own chief minister in Bihar now, they will not hesitate to do so after pushing Nitish Kumar aside and taking control of his party."

"What impact will the Bihar results have on the country's politics? What lesson should the opposition learn from the Bihar results? Will the Bihar results hinder the fight that has begun to protect constitutional institutions like democracy, parliament and Election Commission in this country? We will have to sit together and find answers to many such questions. The situation in Indian democracy has never been so bad. They buy votes by depositing cash in the accounts of women and the unemployed, while the Election Commission of India closes its eyes. This is happening in elections to the Lok Sabha, the state assembly and local civic bodies," the 'Saamna' editorial stated.

"Democracy in India has died. From now on, elections will be held in the same way. It seems that a formula for BJP's election victory has been decided. In Maharashtra, they did not allow Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to get more than 50 seats and in Bihar too, they maintained the same formula. The results of Bihar are not shocking at all. The Election Commission of India and the BJP were seen working hand-in-hand to ensure that election results were declared in this manner," the 'Saamna' editorial stated.

"If the election watchman himself is helping vote thieves, whom should the people trust? The situation in the country is serious and worrying. It is as if the unlimited rule of the Kauravas has begun and there is no end to it. The drumbeats of Bihar's victory played on the streets of Delhi is a warning that the funeral march of Indian democracy has begun. Of course, the power to revive the dead lies in Indian democracy and the Constitution. The people will rise again and fight. There is nothing to be shocked by the Bihar results," the 'Saamna' editorial stated.