Uddhav Thackeray alleges BJP ran 'Operation Ram Mandir', used 'stolen' temple funds to split political parties

Uddhav Thackeray levels fresh allegations against BJP over Ram Mandir funds

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that it carried out an "Operation Ram Mandir" to split rival political parties by using what he described as "stolen" funds meant for the Ram temple.

Addressing party workers and supporters, Thackeray claimed that the BJP had weaponised the Ram Mandir issue for political gains and accused the ruling party of using financial resources linked to the temple to weaken opposition parties. He did not, however, publicly provide evidence to substantiate the allegations.

"The BJP carried out 'Operation Ram Mandir' and used stolen Ram Mandir money to break political parties," Thackeray alleged during his speech, intensifying his criticism of the party ahead of key political contests.

The remarks come amid the continuing political rivalry between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (UBT), which have remained at loggerheads since the split in the Shiv Sena and the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra in 2022.

Thackeray also accused the BJP of attempting to undermine regional political parties through tactics aimed at engineering defections and internal divisions. He alleged that the party had prioritised political expansion over democratic values.

The BJP strongly rejected the accusations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated. Party leaders maintained that the Ram Mandir was built through public contributions collected transparently and denied any misuse of funds for political activities.

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has remained a major political and cultural issue in recent years, with the BJP highlighting its role in the temple's construction. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have frequently accused the ruling party of using religious issues for electoral advantage.

Political observers note that the exchange reflects the increasingly combative rhetoric ahead of upcoming elections, with both the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi seeking to consolidate their support bases in Maharashtra.

The latest allegations are likely to further intensify the political discourse in the state. However, as of now, no official evidence has been publicly presented to support Thackeray's claims regarding the alleged misuse of Ram Mandir funds.