On Bal Thackeray’s birth anniversary, 2 Sena factions to hold separate rallies today

The Uddhav-led Shiv Sena UBT will hold its rally in Andheri, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s rally will be held at BKC.

This will be Uddhav’s first public address after the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which Sena UBT is a part of, faced a crushing defeat in the state assembly elections, and the subsequent friction between the Sena and Congress. The demand from his party functionaries and cadre is to go solo in the upcoming civic body polls by focusing on the party’s core agenda of Hindutva and Maratha upliftment.

According to Sena UBT sources, Uddhav is likely to announce his decision of going solo in the civic polls and will spell out his plans for the polls.

A Shinde Sena functionary said that the party cadre will take a pledge to hoist the saffron flag of the Sena on the BMC and will prove that the party headed by Shinde is the “real Shiv Sena”.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Sena leader Shaina NC said that a grand rally will be held at the Bandra Kurla Complex to honour Balasaheb’s legacy where women would felicitate Deputy CM Shinde, while Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs will be recognised for their contributions. “We are committed to ensuring that the saffron flag continues to soar over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) this year,” she said.

Taking aim at Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray, Shaina said, “They owe an apology to the people of Maharashtra for betraying Balasaheb’s ideology. Unlike them, Shiv Sena does not engage in vote-bank politics or treat Muslim brothers merely as voters. Uddhav Thackeray, in his desperation, has aligned himself with Congress and sought support from the Muslim community, abandoning the principles Balasaheb stood for.”

Reaffirming Shiv Sena’s commitment to Balasaheb’s vision, Shaina said, “Shiv Sena remains resolute in its fight against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, a cause Balasaheb championed.”

The undivided Shiv Sena had 97 corporators in the BMC but after the party split in 2022, over two dozen corporators joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.