Shiv Sena backs farmers’ strike, party chief Uddhav Thackeray says fight has just begun

On Monday, not only did Sainiks participate actively in the bandh, they also resorted to road blockades in several parts of western Maharashtra and Marathwada. In Kolhapur, the Sainiks blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway for half an hour and raised slogans.

Maharashtra farmers, Shiv Sena, Farmers strike, udhhav thackeray, Maharashtra farmers' strike, Shiv Sena farmers strike, Maharashtra farmers demands', maharashtra agrarian crisis, maharashtra news, india news, indian express news

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The Shiv Sena came out in full support of the striking farmers in Maharashtra and also aggressively participated in “Maharashtra Bandh” organised by various farmer groups on Monday, once again highlighting its strained relationship with the government and its actions. In fact, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, in a statement, described the Sainiks participating in the farmer strike as “beginning of the fight…” Like the Sena, the Swabhimani Paksha (SP) “actively” started taking part in the farmers’ strike from Monday. Both Sena and SP are part of the Fadnavis government in the state and both have been frequently displaying their unease in the BJP fold.

READ: Political parties demonstrate as farmers stay away from street protests

On Monday, not only did Sainiks participate actively in the bandh, they also resorted to road blockades in several parts of western Maharashtra and Marathwada. In Kolhapur, the Sainiks blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway for half an hour and raised slogans against the government and in support of the farmers’ demand. Two MLAs and several other Sena leaders were detained and then released. The Swabhimani Paksha also stopped the functioning of a weekly bazaar in Kolhapur and held protests at several places in both Kolhapur and Sangli. A rally, led by party chief Raju Shetti, was taken out in Icharlkaranji. In Marathwada, too, the Sainiks aggressively participated in rasta rokos at various places in the eight districts of the region.
In Pune, Sena chief Vinayak Nimhan said though they did not participate in Monday’s bandh, they have already extended support to the farmers’ strike. “In next two-three days, we will decide about the kind of participation the Sena will have in the farmers’ strike,” Nimhan said.

Expressing his party’s support to the ongoing farmers’ strike and Monday’s Maharashtra bandh, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “This is the beginning of the fight…Till the last demand of the striking farmers are met, the Sena will stand firmly behind the farmers.” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, MP, made Uddhav’s statement public.

In the statement, Uddhav said, “The support that farmers’ strike is getting across Maharashtra has a lesson in it for the rulers. Farmers have hit the streets and the upsurge seen at some places should not been seen as violence, but should be looked at as hunger pangs felt by the farmers that have surfaced. Farmers who have participated in the strike in big numbers have displayed a unique example of unity.” Raut stated that the Sena chief has extended full support to the farmers’ strike.

The Sena stand has, however, not gone down well with the BJP, but the party has chosen to keep mum like it has done several times in the past. “There is nothing to say about this….,” said BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari. ”The CM has already made it clear that the opposition, including the NCP and Congress, were behind the farmers’ strike. The Sena is not in the opposition and, therefore, the BJP doesn’t expect it to be part of the farmers’ strike. But if it chooses to do so, there is nothing new about the way it takes its stand..,” said a BJP leader.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram