Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Shiv Sena UBT Targets BJP Over Youth Rallies, School Meals
Shiv Sena (UBT) criticized the BJP government in Maharashtra.
It said schoolchildren received very poor-quality food in Ambegaon.
The party claimed some peas stayed hard even after being cooked for a long time.
It also alleged that the food supplier was close to Chief Minister Fadnavis.
Shiv Sena (UBT) said the supplier helped finance a BJP event for young people.
The party also praised Rahul Gandhi’s youth meeting in Pune.
It claimed officials made that event difficult to hold.
Fadnavis disagreed and called Gandhi’s meetings paid publicity events that should be investigated.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of financial improprieties and corruption.
Its Saamana editorial alleged that children in Ambegaon were served peas that remained hard after 13 pressure-cooker whistles.
The party claimed the meal contractor had ties to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and funded a BJP youth event.
It accused authorities of imposing strict conditions on Rahul Gandhi’s Pune youth event and targeting Congress workers.
Fadnavis called Gandhi’s interactive sessions paid publicity events and said they should face a state investigation.
- Who
- Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP, and Rahul Gandhi are central to the dispute.
- What
- The Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the Maharashtra government and BJP of corruption in school meals and questioned the financing of youth rallies.
- When
- The Saamana editorial was published on Monday; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- The school-meal allegation concerns Ambegaon in Pune district, while the youth events mentioned were held in Pune and Nagpur.
- Why
- The editorial sought to challenge the BJP’s youth outreach and demanded scrutiny of its event spending and contractor funding.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Allegations
BJP and Fadnavis Position
School meal quality and contracts
Shiv Sena (UBT) Allegations
Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that substandard food was supplied to schoolchildren and that the contractor had close ties to Fadnavis.
BJP and Fadnavis Position
The article does not provide a detailed response from Fadnavis or the BJP to the school-meal and contractor allegations.
Youth event financing
Shiv Sena (UBT) Allegations
The Thackeray camp questioned how the BJP’s youth rallies were financed and demanded that the party audit its event expenses and contractor funding sources.
BJP and Fadnavis Position
Fadnavis criticized Rahul Gandhi’s interactive sessions as paid publicity events and said they should be investigated by the state.
Treatment of opposition events
Shiv Sena (UBT) Allegations
Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed authorities imposed 30 to 35 strict conditions on Gandhi’s Pune event, while alleged political disruptions were followed by cases against Congress workers.
BJP and Fadnavis Position
The article does not include the authorities’ or BJP’s response to these claims.
- Publication
- The allegations appeared in an editorial in Saamana, the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece.
- School meal location
- Ambegaon, Pune district, Maharashtra.
- Food allegation
- Children were reportedly served dried peas that remained hard after 13 pressure-cooker whistles.
- Contractor allegation
- The editorial identified the supplier as a Nagpur-based businessman allegedly close to Devendra Fadnavis.
- Youth event
- The BJP held a Gen Z outreach event at Reshm Bagh Ground in Nagpur.
- Rahul Gandhi event
- Gandhi hosted the Chatron Ki Goonj event in Pune, which the article said drew thousands of students.
- Fadnavis response
- Fadnavis described Gandhi’s interactive sessions as paid publicity events subject to state investigation.