Mumbai: At two separate rallies marking the birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray Thursday, both existing factions of the party, led by Uddhav Thackeray & Eknath Shinde, tried to assert that their time is not up yet.
Speaking at the event in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde said that though he is not the chief minister anymore, he is not desperate for the position, and plans to grow his party, taking it to every household over the next one year.
“I have worked as chief minister for two and a half years for the people, and also became a brother to 2.5 crore ‘ladki’ sisters. I am not selfish… I think my self esteem is bigger than any chair. We all should now work to take Shiv Sena to every household.”
Meanwhile, Thackeray, whose party suffered an embarrassing defeat in the Maharashtra assembly polls said at his rally in Andheri that he is a “fighter”, and not someone who gives up. He also slammed Shinde, saying that the former chief minister will be relevant for the BJP only until he has Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s “blessings”.
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Both leaders have asked their respective cadres to put up a strong show in the local body polls, which are likely to be held this year across the state, with Thackeray hinting that his faction may fight solo. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is a member of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
“For the upcoming corporation elections, everyone says—fight alone. Do you have the strength? Will you show Amit Shah his place? The election is not yet announced. First get rid of the illusion (that this is an easy battle). Show me your preparedness and determination. When I am confident that all of you are ready, I will then decide what you want,” Thackeray said, addressing the party workers.
Also Read: Senas battle it out over Bal Thackeray memorial. Team Shinde wants Uddhav ousted from chairman post
Shinde’s focus on ‘expansion’
At the event, Shinde was felicitated by the party’s women workers, while all the MPs and MLAs were also greeted.
Shinde went on to slam Thackeray for giving up on his father’s ideology. “Two and a half years ago, you (Uddhav) committed a sin by leaving Balasaheb’s ideology for the CM chair, and that is why you have no right to speak about the Thackeray memorial. In fact, you should apologise for the mistakes you have done even before entering the Thackeray memorial,” he remarked.
The deputy chief minister also ridiculed the rival faction for considering the option to go solo for civic body polls. “For going solo, there needs to be strength in one’s arms. One needs to be stronger. One needs to come out of the house and be with party workers to understand them and interact with them.”
Shinde also lauded his party workers for their efforts during Lok Sabha and assembly elections in 2024, when the party got seven and 57 seats, respectively. Now, the focus should be on taking Shiv Sena to every household, he said.
“’Shiv Sena in every village, Shiv Sainik in every house’ is our mission. Scale up the registration. Start preparing for local body elections. Our presence should be felt from gram sabha to corporation.”
Thackeray seeks ‘revenge’
Speaking about the defeat in the assembly polls, Thackeray admitted that the party had become “complacent” and “delusional”.
“After the Lok Sabha victory, we were under the illusion that the assembly election was an easy task. We were complacent. I admit that is our mistake,” he said.
But he moved on to slam Home Minister Shah, who had previously remarked that Thackeray was “shown his place” in the assembly polls. “Who are you to show me my place? The shiv sainiks, not you, will decide my place. I will not be defeated by traitors,” Thackeray said. “You don’t know what a wounded tiger and his claw can do. Don’t underestimate the ‘Marathi manoos’. When a ‘Marathi manoos’ can defeat Aurangzeb, who is Amit Shah?”
He reminded the cadres that the party’s hindutva is not opposed to Muslims, and is aimed at binding all Maharashtrians and Marathis together, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. “Our Hindutva is progressive and clean. If you try to destroy the pride of Marathi using Hindutva, we will not tolerate it.”
About the upcoming local body polls, Thackeray said, “I have spoken to all from Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, everywhere, and they said they want to fight alone. But for that, I want to see your readiness. I want revenge from the ones who backstabbed Maharashtra and Marathis. Those traitors and their boss should be shown their place,” he said.
Also Read: Why Eknath Shinde’s village retreats spark talks of discord within Mahayuti
