India, Nov. 13 -- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for manufacturing fear to win elections and said the countdown for its ouster from power at the Centre and in the states has begun. He accused the BJP and the "toxic social media ecosystem" it has nurtured of making desperate efforts in Mumbai and Maharashtra to stir up a conflict between Marathis and North Indians over Chhath Puja ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections.

In a post on X, he said the BJP is circulating reels on social media depicting the rituals and what they frame as a cultural invasion stemming from them. "As if that were not enough, they even attempted to play Bhojpuri music at certain railway stations ...