As the two Shiv Sena factions are set to hold their annual Dussehra public rallies in Mumbai on Tuesday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has launched a new music video, seeking to reclaim the legacy of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Interestingly, even as the music video has the Shiv Sena UBT name and poll symbol — mashaal — the lyrics underline that the party name and symbol do not mean much for Shiv Sainiks, and however, stresses that the Thackeray name is synonymous with the party and that the Shiv Sainiks owe their allegiance only to the Thackerays. “The Thackeray name has such power that when it is with Sainiks, the Shiv Sainiks get the strength to face any hurdle and challenge in the world. Thackeray is the god of all loyal Shiv Sainiks and a source of never-ending energy and love! The Shiv Sainiks have offered this new song for the love of their god Thackeray… Thackeray is our god!” said the Sena UBT while releasing the song. This year’s Dussehra rally is important for the Uddhav Sena since the party has lost its "Shiv Sena" name and "bow and arrow" poll symbol. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recognised the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction as the "real" Shiv Sena and allotted it the party name and poll symbol. So, through this music video, Uddhav attempts to emphasise that for Shiv Sainiks, the party name or symbol is not important, but loyalist Sainiks are and will always be with the Thackerays. The song’s tagline — “Thackeray hech daivat” (only Thackeray is like a god figure) — asserts that Thackeray is the party and its poll symbol, and the Sainiks owe their allegiance to Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray. The song states, "Paksh apla Thackeray, chinha aaple Thackeray, aan baan, shaan Thackeray, daivat aaple Thackeray… (our party is Thackeray, our symbol is Thackeray, our pride is Thackerays, and Thackerays are gods for us, the Shiv Sainiks…" The move is seen as an attempt to distinguish the faction led by Uddhav as the original Shiv Sena, while suggesting that the "Shinde faction is just a party of defectors". The music video starts with an audio visual clip of an old speech of Bal Thackeray, and later features the generations of Thackerays, starting Bal Thackeray’s father Probodhankar Thackeray, Bal Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, and his son Aaditya Thackeray as the heir of the family. It also comprises lines from Bal Thackeray’s last speech during a Dussehra rally, where he made an emotional appeal to the Sainiks to stand by Uddhav and Aaditya after he announced them as his political heir. “This is an attempt by the party to remind the Sainiks and the voters that Bal Thackeray had handed over the Sena's political legacy to Uddhav and Aaditya, while urging them to stand with the Thackerays. This is crucial, considering the rival faction being recognised as Shiv Sena and Uddhav losing the party name and symbol. and also considering the upcoming Loksabha and Assembly elections,” said a political observer, requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, both the Shiv Sena factions have geared up for a major show of strength at their Dussehra rallies scheduled to take place at the same time on Tuesday evening. As the Uddhav Sena is all set to hold its Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park ground, the Shinde faction is prepared for a grand rally at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. Both the factions are expecting a heavy footfall at their rallies, with Shinde Sena prepared for a gathering of over 1 lakh people and Sena (UBT) expecting a similar turnout of Sainiks from across the state, they said. A key annual event The Dussehra rally has been one of the most important annual events for the Shiv Sena since its establishment in 1966, and according to traditions, the Shivaji Park ground or Shivtirth — as the party calls it — has been the venue all these years, with exceptions in 2020, when a virtual rally was organised due to the Covid-19 pandemic and at Shanmukhanand Hall in Kings Circle in 2021. After the split in the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena in June 2022 — which was engineered by Shinde — the two party factions held separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai. Setting a stage for another face-off — just like last year — both the Sena factions had staked a claim to Shivaji Park this year for holding their annual Dussehra rallies, which falls on Tuesday (October 24). However, in a surprising move, Shinde later said that his party would hold the Dussehra rally at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai this year. Last year, the two Sena factions had approached the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its permission to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, but the civic body rejected their appeal. The Bombay High Court eventually allowed the Sena (UBT) to hold the event at Shivaji Park on October 5 last year, while the Shinde Sena organised its rally at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex. The two factions had organised the event at the same time, and claimed to be the true heir of Bal Thackeray. This year's Dussehra rallies hold a special significance for the two factions as these would be the last such events ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to take place next year. Uddhav as well as CM Shinde — main speakers at the rallies — are likely to bigul the Lok Sabha election campaigns and guide cadres about their joint rallies. Sena (UBT) will hold joint rallies with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Congress, and Shinde Sena likely with the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar and the BJP.
