Cancel Dussehra rally, redirect funds for flood relief: BJP tells Uddhav

Maharashtra BJP Chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye on Monday urged Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to cancel his party’s annual Dussehra rally and instead use the funds for flood relief in Marathwada, a region battered by heavy rains and widespread damage.

Upadhye criticized Thackeray for inaction during his tenure as Chief Minister, saying he “remained at home” when disasters struck and now must “atone” by diverting rally funds to aid those who have lost everything. Thackeray recently toured five flood-affected districts of Maharashtra, meeting victims and hearing grievances.

However, two key points emerge beyond BJP’s criticism:

• Political angle vs. Practical responsibility:

While the BJP is framing this as a moral call, It has the resources and administrative capacity to directly intensify flood relief and rescue measures, which is obvious since they are in power, without relying on Thackeray’s government.. The demand may partly serve a political agenda, nudging Uddhav to appear compassionate ahead of the rally. Yet, given that the Dussehra rally is an annual tradition, it is likely Thackeray will go ahead, balancing political symbolism with limited practical impact on relief work.

• “Politics or people: The rally dilemma”

If Thackeray cancels the rally and redirects those funds, it could provide additional support to flood relief efforts in Maharashtra, where the state has already sanctioned ₹2,215 crore for around 3.2 million affected farmers and ₹1,339 crore for 19.22 lakh hectares across five divisions. However, given that over 17 lakh hectares of crops and significant property were damaged, these measures may still fall short. Redirecting rally funds could bolster relief, but the effectiveness would depend on transparent and efficient management. Thackeray has also publicly demanded a ₹50,000 crore package from the Union government, highlighting the scale of the crisis and the need for a robust, coordinated response to meaningfully aid affected communities.

Upadhye also criticized the rally’s content, claiming it has shifted from the ideological direction of Bal Thackeray to repeated accusations against rivals. He questioned the logic of burdening ordinary party workers with high expenditure for what he called “theatrics,” when similar messages already appear daily in ‘Saamana’.

As Marathwada reels under floods, the debate over the Dussehra rally highlights the tension between political symbolism and urgent public welfare, with citizens waiting to see whether the funds will serve a festival spectacle or real relief. The situation increasingly appears more like a political battle than a genuine effort to help flood victims.