Uddhav Thackeray Asserts His Faction Is Only Shiv Sena In Bhandup Rally
On Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray asserted that the only true Shiv Sena is the one led by him, during a public rally in Bhandup, Mumbai. Thackeray's statements were a sharp response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had recently declared that the only Shiv Sena is the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Thackeray addressed the crowd in Bhandup, which falls within the constituency of rebel MP Sanjay Dina Patil. As part of his tour, Thackeray also visited party shakhas in Kanjurmarg and North East Mumbai, marking the beginning of a larger campaign to visit the constituencies of six rebel MPs.
During his speech, Thackeray criticized Shah's comments, which were made a day earlier at a rally in Kolhapur. Thackeray stated that an outsider had come to Kolhapur and claimed to have made a new discovery about the party's status. He declared that the party belongs to him, his supporters, and founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
Thackeray emphasized that there was only one Shiv Sena chief and that there would never be another, noting that the public would not accept anyone else in that position. He remarked that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might operate with various presidents, the Shiv Sena's leadership structure remains distinct.
Referring to the party's founding principles, Thackeray said that the Shiv Sena was established to protect the rights of the Marathi Manoos and to stop attacks from outsiders. He added that Shah, as an outsider, should stay within his limits. Thackeray further stated that although people might fear Shah due to his official position, he does not require security on the battlefield because he has the support of his Shiv Sainiks.
The political row was sparked by Shah's speech on Saturday in Kolhapur, where he declared that there was no longer a "Shinde faction" and that only one Shiv Sena existed under Eknath Shinde's leadership.
Following his visits to Bhandup and Kanjurmarg, Thackeray is scheduled to continue his tour to other regions, including Yavatmal, Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Shirdi.
