A day after the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in which the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory over the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut took to the media to share her views on the opposition’s defeat. Ranaut, known for her strong political statements, likened the MVA to a “demon” and blamed its failure on disrespecting women.
“I expected such a bad failure for Uddhav Thackeray. We can identify who is a ‘devta (god)’ and who is a ‘daitya (demon)’ depending on if they respect women or work for their welfare,” Ranaut said in an interaction with reporters in Delhi.
Her remarks came in the wake of her long-running feud with the Shiv Sena-led MVA government, particularly following a bitter clash in 2020 when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished alleged illegal alterations to her Bandra bungalow.
Ranaut accused the Thackeray government of disrespecting her and her work, saying, “Those who do not respect women can never win. They demolished my home and verbally abused me.” She claimed that their disrespect for women led to their downfall in the elections.
Before the demolition incident, Ranaut had criticized the Mumbai Police and had famously compared the city to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These earlier statements had added fuel to the feud between her and the MVA leadership.
Mahayuti Triumphs in Maharashtra Assembly Elections
The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition retained power in Maharashtra with a resounding victory, winning 230 out of 288 assembly seats. In contrast, the Congress-led MVA alliance, which included Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), could only manage 46 seats. None of the MVA’s constituents secured the minimum number of seats required to claim the position of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.
Ranaut expressed her satisfaction with the outcome and congratulated the Mahayuti for its success. She also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, calling him “invincible” and a “devta” (god), claiming that he was born for the “salvation of the country.” She emphasized the Prime Minister’s unparalleled stature in the world and his ability to inspire people, especially the youth, who were seen chanting “Modi-Modi” during the campaign.
“The people of Maharashtra voted for development and a stable government,” Ranaut said, reinforcing her belief that the BJP’s brand had become synonymous with progress in the country.
PM Modi’s Leadership and the Decline of Congress
Ranaut also took a jab at the Congress, once a dominant political force in India, claiming that it had now become a “regional party” due to a loss of public trust. According to her, the Congress had failed to maintain its relevance as people increasingly turned towards the BJP and Prime Minister Modi for leadership.
As for the question of Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister, Ranaut deferred to the BJP high command, saying that the party leadership would decide who would hold the top post in the state.
The Road Ahead for Maharashtra
With the BJP’s overwhelming victory in Maharashtra, the focus now shifts to the formation of the new state government. Speculation continues over who will be named as the next Chief Minister, with several BJP leaders being considered for the top post.
As for Ranaut, her political career seems to be on the rise, with her alignment with the BJP further solidified by her vocal support for the party’s values and leadership.
