Uddhav already politically dead, declares Shinde

Mumbai: At
Shiv Sena
's foundation day celebration in Worli on Thursday, deputy chief minister
Eknath Shinde
criticised his former leader and current rival,
Uddhav Thackeray
, for alleged corruption within the BMC and for deviating from the late
Bal Thackeray
's ideology in his pursuit of the chief minister's chair.
Responding to Thackeray's "Come on, kill me" political challenge, Shinde took a dig at him as he said he might have watched English films during his foreign vacations. "Why kill someone who is already politically dead?" he said.
Shinde affirmed his adherence to the ideology, declaring, "Hindutva is our soul, and Marathi is our breath."
"They betrayed Balasaheb's ideology and Shiv Sainiks for the CM's chair. Is this how you become Balasaheb's heir?" Shinde said on the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief.
Shinde lauded his MP son, Shrikant Shinde, for leading a delegation of members of Parliament abroad and expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity. Shinde's mention of his son during the Worli function indicated that Shrikant may play a pivotal role in the upcoming
BMC election
.
Shinde appealed to supporters to prepare for the elections and ensure that the party flag is displayed at the BMC headquarters, promising to reinstate the Marathi manoos who was displaced to neighbouring districts despite Shiv Sena's two-decade rule over the BMC.
The Shiv Sena split into two in 2022. One faction was led by Eknath Shinde and was able to retain the name, while the other was led by Thackeray and had to settle for the name Shiv Sena (UBT). Both claim to be the real Shiv Sena founded by Bal Thackeray.
Shinde asserted that Hindutva and Marathi pride are always with them but Shiv Sena (UBT) recognised it only during elections. Shinde asked Thackeray: "What have you done for Marathi manoos after Balasaheb? Mumbai's Marathi population was pushed to the outskirts during your rule in BMC.
You held the chair for over 20 years and still failed to protect them."
Shinde criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) for comparing the RSS with anti-national forces and accused Thackeray of jailing individuals for chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, after stating that it reflects his Hindutva.
Drawing an analogy to farmers awaiting rain for their harvest's well-being, Shinde criticised the Shiv Sena (UBT) for "chasing money" through alleged involvement in the khichdi scam during Covid, the body bag scam, the garbage scam, and the Mithi river desilting scam. "How much money will you need?" he asked.
He also referenced the ongoing investigation into the Mithi desilting scam, mentioning Dino Morea, a close associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) politician Aaditya Thackeray. Shinde suggested that Dino Morea's inquiry could expose the truth.

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