At BKC rally: Shinde asks Sena workers to gear up for civic polls, expand party base

At the event, the women party workers felicitated Dy CM Shinde, while Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs were also recognised for their contributions.

Slamming Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, who said that those who abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray would not be given invitation for the inauguration of the memorial, (of Bal Thackeray), Shinde said that Uddhav had no moral rights to speak about the ideology of the Bal Thackeray since he abandoned Balasaheb’s principles in 2019 by joining hands with the congress.

“In 2019 they (Uddhav) committed a sin of abandoning the ideology of Bal Thackeray and hence he has no moral right to speak about it. In fact before entering the memorial site, they (Uddhav) should first apologise Balasaheb for the mistakes they have committed, But there is nothing to expect from these people who do not care about Balasaheb and his ideology,” Shinde said.

Citing the performance of the Shiv Sena in the recently held assembly and Lok Sabha polls in which the Sena won 60 and 7 seats respectively, which was higher than their rival Sena UBT, Shinde asserted that the poll results proved that his faction is the real Shiv Sena. “We won two lakh more votes in Lok Sabha and 15 lakh votes in the assembly polls than the Sena UBT. This has proven which is the real Shiv Sena,” Shinde said.

Shinde said that the Sena should expand its network in every part of the state and the party’s presence should be felt not only in every village but in every household, and that this should be Sena’s mission now. “Next year is centenary year of the birth anniversary of Balasaheb and we all should work to take Shiv sena to every household and the mission ‘Gaav Tithe Shiv sena’ and ‘Ghar Tithe Shiv sainik’ (presence of Sena in every village and household) should be achieved by the party,”Shinde said.

Highlighting the importance of staying true to Balasaheb’s vision, Shinde remarked, “A memorial means little if his principles are ignored. Balasaheb’s thoughts and ideologies are our eternal guiding light.”

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde celebrated the party’s recent electoral success as a historic milestone. “The uprising we began two and a half years ago has culminated in an overwhelming victory—one that is being discussed not just in Maharashtra but across the nation and beyond. This success is a tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray on his birth anniversary. If he was here, he would be proud of this achievement,” Eknath Shinde said.

He emphasized that Shiv Sena’s unprecedented win brings greater responsibility. “The people’s trust in us has doubled our duty. With the determination of every Shiv Sainik, we will ensure the saffron flag continues to fly high,” he asserted.

Reflecting on his tenure, Eknath Shinde said, “Serving the people of Maharashtra over the last two and a half years has been a privilege. But being recognized as the ‘beloved brother’ of 2.4 crore women across the state is a greater honour than any political position. Balasaheb Thackeray taught us that self-respect matters more than power.”

Eknath Shinde urged party workers to prepare for the upcoming local body elections. “From municipal corporations to gram sabhas, we must achieve victories everywhere. Our track record over the past two and a half years will ensure another landslide win. Nothing is impossible for Shiv Sainiks,” he said.

Looking ahead, Eknath Shinde unveiled the party’s ambitious mission for the coming year: “Shiv Sena in every village, Shiv Sainik in every home.” He called on party members to strengthen the party’s roots across Maharashtra and carry forward Balasaheb’s legacy.