Pune – In a high‑profile press conference on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of the breakaway Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, openly ridiculed his former ally, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He took the opportunity to re‑affirm the party’s legacy following the Dussehra rally that took place at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
At the rally, Thackeray said the event “was unprecedented” in its scale and spirit. “There was no need to close the doors,” he told reporters, noting that the crowd swelled even in the rain. He reminded the audience that Shiv Sena’s first Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park was held in 1966, a tradition he said the party still honors.
The former party chief also criticized Shinde for allegedly holding secret meetings with BJP leaders. “Some leaders who began in our party have since joined other outfits,” Thackeray said, drawing a parallel with journalists who moved from his newspaper, Saamana, to other outlets. He stressed that the Shiv Sena brand has deep roots in Pune, spanning five to six generations.
Shinde, meanwhile, addressed his own Dussehra rally in Mumbai, pledging continued support for farmers and emphasizing his commitment to the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray. His speech aimed to showcase the party’s strength after the split.
The rallies are a staple of Shiv Sena politics, offering a platform for leaders to make promises and display unity. With the party now split between Utd by Uddhav Thackeray and the faction led by Shinde, the timing of the clashes at the rallies underlines the tension that still exists between the two groups.
These developments are key for anyone following political shifts in Maharashtra, especially as the government’s relationship with the BJP and the Shiv Sena factions remains under close scrutiny.
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