The Shiv Sena on Wednesday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its humiliating defeat in the by-polls, saying it should learn a lesson and keep its “feet on the ground”.
In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamna, the party also said the by-poll results rang a warning bell for the BJP ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections slated for October 15.
“In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP made great strides in Uttar Pradesh, but now the by-poll results have been the opposite. This is a lesson for the Maharashtra polls. It is a lesson for all. Don’t take the people for granted,” the editorial noted. “People's minds are fickle. It is their decision. It is a lesson for all,” the Sena said.
Shiv Sena also warned the BJP not to get swayed by the frenzy of the Lok Sabha victory or else the public will do the needful.
The BJP received a major blow in its strongholds in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat when it lost 13 of the 23 seats held by it there while the Congress put up a surprise showing in two of these states in the assembly by-elections.