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The Print
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Print
Shinde & Thackeray revive Shiv Sena's classic ‘Marathi manus, sons of soil' pitch ahead of BMC polls
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, addressing party workers at NSCI Dome in Mumbai's Worli, hit back saying the Marathi population was compelled to go out of Mumbai because of 'those who are only remembering the Marathi manus now.' Speaking at the Shanmukhananda auditorium in Sion, Mumbai, Thackeray who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated once again that he is open to reuniting with his estranged brother Raj Thackeray, for the civic body polls without putting it in as many words. He said he is willing to 'do whatever the people of Maharashtra want' to protect the interests of Mumbai, Marathi and Maharashtra. Mumbai: Celebrating Shiv Sena's foundation day Thursday, both Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray sounded the battle cry for Mumbai's civic body, each returning to the party's roots—the Marathi manus, son of the soil. 'It is because you couldn't do anything, Mumbai's Marathi manus were driven out of Mumbai to places like Nalasopara, Badlapur, Vasai, Virar. This is your sin. Over the past 20 years, who ruled Mumbai? Everyone knows,' Shinde said, speaking at the event. Thackeray at his rally said, 'These people don't want Marathi people to come together, that's why they are paying frequent visits.' Thackeray was indirectly taunting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde who have had meetings with Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), ever since talks about the two Thackeray cousins reuniting picked up steam. 'Whether it (the alliance with Raj Thackeray) will happen or not, we will see. You shouldn't bother about it,' added Uddhav Thackeray further alleged that the ruling Mahayuti does not want the Shiv Sena (UBT) to come to power in the Mumbai civic body so that it can continue to protect the interests of the Adani Group. 'You don't have money to give for the Ladki Bahin scheme, for state transport buses, but in Dharavi, stamp duty has been waived for the Adani Group. Where did you get that money from? Everything is free for Adani,' Thackeray said. The Adani Group is redeveloping the Dharavi slum cluster. 'This is not just our fight. In 1960, martyrs shed their blood to ensure we get Mumbai. We will not let that go to waste and let anyone finish the importance of Mumbai,' Thackeray added. Elections to all local bodies in Maharashtra are expected to be held late this year. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which the undivided Shiv Sena had ruled for 25 years till 2022, will also go to polls. The term of the general body lapsed in March 2022 and fresh elections are yet to be held. The Shiv Sena split in June 2022. The battle for the Mumbai civic body is a high-stakes one—for several reasons. The BJP has been aggressively trying to wrest control of the country's richest municipal corporation from the Thackerays, while the Shinde-led Sena is on a mission to prove itself the real Shiv Sena and show that the Thackeray brand's supposed appeal in Mumbai is a thing of the past. For the Shiv Sena (UBT), winning Mumbai is key to the immediate survival of his party especially after its debilitating defeat in the state assembly polls. Hitting back at Uddhav, Shinde said the Shiv Sena (UBT) was looking at Mumbai as a golden goose. 'Their heart is in the coffers of Mumbai. Those who stayed in power (in the Mumbai civic body) for so many years and broke the city's treasury are now remembering Mumbai…Mumbai will continue to stay with Maharashtra. Nobody can break Mumbai from Maharashtra,' Shinde said. The BJP is currently in an alliance—Mahayuti—with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), ruling the Maharashtra government. Leaders from the BJP, as well as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, have informally said that while the three parties will decide whether to have an alliance for each local body poll separately depending on the desires of the ground cadre in that region, the Mahayuti is most likely to fight the BMC election together. On Thursday, Shinde was less than subtle about his ambition of dislodging the Thackerays from the BMC. His party members presented him with a small replica of the BMC headquarters, saying the Mahayuti will rule this edifice post-election. The Deputy CM, at his event, paid tribute to former CM Manohar Joshi, known to have his fair share of differences with Uddhav. Shinde also felicitated Joshi's son, Unmesh, during his party's celebration of Shiv Sena's foundation day. Also read: 4 dead, 32 injured in bridge collapse over Indrayani River near Pune, 10-15 people feared swept away 'Come on, kill me'—Uddhav Thackeray Galvanising the crowd in front of him, Thackeray Thursday borrowed a dialogue from a 1990 Nana Patekar-starrer film, Prahar. 'I am standing here. Come on, kill me,' he urged the BJP and Shinde. 'But, when you come, bring an ambulance along since you will come walking, but will have to go back injured.' Shinde, who delivered his speech at the NSCI dome well after Thackeray had wrapped up his speech, said, 'How can we kill someone who is already dead? People of the state have already finished them in the assembly polls.' The Shiv Sena (UBT) won just 20 of the 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra assembly election last year, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 57 seats. 'I will share a little math with you,' Shinde told his party workers, elaborating how the undivided Shiv Sena's strike rate was 22 percent in 2014, 45 percent in 2019, and in 2024, while Shinde's party contested 80 seats, winning 57, the Shiv Sena (UNT) contested 85, winning just 20. 'This means their strike rate was just 23 percent. They did not get even one-third the votes that our Shiv Sena got,' Shinde said The Deputy CM said his party will contest the upcoming local body polls as an alliance with Mahayuti partners, but said that the details will be shared at a later stage. Shinde, however, stayed away from commenting on a possible Raj-Uddhav alliance. Hindi imposition Speaking at Shanmukhananda, Thackeray dove into the debate over the Modi government's proposed three-language policy and the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students in all Marathi- and English-medium schools starting from the first standard. As per the state's government resolution, Hindi will be the default choice for the third language unless 20 students or more come together and demand a different third language. Speaking on the issue, Thackeray said it was a ploy to divide the state's population. 'They created a divide among Hindus over caste and now they want to divide Marathi vs non-Marathi so that we will fight among us. They want to divert attention from the real news,' Thackeray said. 'They want to impose Hindi, we won't let it be imposed. We are not against Hindi, but I will not allow compulsory Hindi in primary education,' Thackeray said, asking whether Hindi has been imposed in Gujarat. His estranged cousin, Raj Thackeray, has also raised strong opposition to making Hindi compulsory for primary schools as a default third language. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Rakhi gift before polls, now strain on coffers, how Mahayuti's Ladki Bahin scheme has undergone a squeeze
Mint
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Maharashtra News: Uddhav's ‘Prahaar' jibe vs Shinde's Hindutva retort mark Shiv Sena Foundation Day
Maharashtra News: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on June 19 accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to scuttle the possibility of his party's alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. In response, Maharashtra's Deputy CM Eknath Shinde slammed him for 'abandoning' Hindutva. Using a dialogue from the 1991 Nana Patekar-starrer Hindi movie Prahaar, Uddhav also challenged the 'gaddars' (traitors), the term he often uses for the Shinde-led group that 'ditched' him three years ago and joined the BJP-led government in the state. Both Thackeray and Shinde addressed rallies of their parties in Mumbai to celebrate the 59th foundation day of Shiv Sena, founded by Uddhav's father Bal Thackeray in 1966. While the Shinde-led Shiv Sena held its event at the NSCI Dome in Worli, the Sena (UBT) rally was at Shanmukhand Hall in the Sion area. In order to scuttle the possibility of an alliance of "Marathi parties", meetings are being held in hotels and elsewhere, Uddhav Thackeray said, apparently referring to Raj Thackeray's recent meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a five-star hotel in the city. "What people want will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP,' the former Chief Minister said. Recalling the famous dialogue from Prahaar, Thackeray said, 'Like Nana Patekar in the film, I am standing before these traitors and telling them, Come on, kill me.' In Prahaar, Patekar's character, Major Chavhan, confronts goons harassing a woman, and shouts, "Come on, kill me!" as he fights them off. 'But if you dare attack me, come along with an ambulance like in the film starring Amitabh Bachchan, because you will meet the same fate,' Thackeray said, without naming the movie Trishul, where Amitabh confronts the bad guys with an accompanying ambulance. At the Worli rally, Shinde countered, saying, 'Mere talk is not enough. You need strength in your wrists.' Uddhav said the imposition of Hindi in the state will not be allowed at any cost. 'The BJP wants to create a divide among Marathi and Hindi-speakers on the eve of civic polls,' he said, exuding confidence that his party will retain the Mumbai civic body. He said the BJP has no legacy of its own and had to install a massive statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who banned the RSS when he was the country's home minister. Referring to the BJP-led Mahayuti's manifesto, speaking of giving ₹ 2,100 per month to women under the Laadki Bahin scheme and loan waiver to farmers, he said the BJP did not fulfil these promises after the assembly elections. 'They (BJP) promised me that the Shiv Sena would have the chief minister's post for two and a half years, but didn't keep the promise," said Uddhav Thackeray, who parted ways with the BJP over the CM post after the 2019 assembly elections. When the opposition contested the Lok Sabha polls by forming the INDIA group, PM Narendra Modi compared the opposition bloc to the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, Thackeray claimed, adding that after Operation Sindoor, Modi sent MPs of the same opposition bloc all over the world to present India's stand. The BJP maligns opposition leaders with corruption charges, and then inducts them into the party, Thackeray said. Responding to Thackeray's accusations, Shinde claimed he was desperate for power and was therefore seeking an alliance with the MNS. Shinde said his party functioned as per Bal Thackeray's ideology. Shiv Sena (UBT) did not get even one-third of the votes polled by his Shiv Sena in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, Shinde said. 'Whatever votes they got was because of the Congress as the real Shiv Sena voters have bid them goodbye,'' he said. 'Balasaheb Thackeray opposed Congress, but those desperate for power aligned with that party as they are desperate for power. UBT has betrayed the Marathi people, Shiv Sena voters and have abandoned Hindutva,' he said. Shinde said he has never seen a betrayer like Uddhav Thackeray 'who changes colours like a chameleon'. He said he will never compromise on Hindutva for power. 'Why do you hesitate to call Balasaheb as Hindu Hriday Samrat? You join hands with those who abuse Modi and (Amit) Shah who fulfilled Balasaheb's dream of Ram temple and abolishing Article 370. Why do you sit with those who abuse Savarkar and Hindu religion,' Shinde said. 'Are you Indian or are you a Pakistani agent? Pakistan uses your statements against India,' Shinde said, naming Uddhav Thackeray. Like Nana Patekar in the film, I am standing before these traitors and telling them, Come on, kill me. Shinde also mocked Shiv Sena (UBT) for celebrating the party's foundation day, claiming that the Thackeray-led group came into existence only three years ago. How can a group formed on October 10, 2022, celebrate the Shiv Sena's 59th foundation day, he added.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uddhav Thackeray attacks BJP; Eknath Shinde hits back, accuses him of ‘abandoning' Hindutva
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday accused the BJP of attempting to derail a potential alliance between his party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. The remarks drew a sharp response from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who hit back by accusing Uddhav of 'abandoning' Hindutva. Uddhav was speaking at his party's 59th foundation day rally in Mumbai and used one of his frequent barbs, referring to the Shinde-led faction as 'gaddars' (traitors) for breaking away from him three years ago and aligning with the BJP. Both Uddhav and Shinde held separate rallies to mark the Shiv Sena's foundation day, which was established by Uddhav's father Bal Thackeray in 1966, news agency PTI reported. The Shinde-led Sena celebrated at NSCI Dome in Worli, while the UBT faction gathered at Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion. Uddhav alleged that behind-the-scenes efforts were underway to block unity among 'Marathi parties,' saying that meetings were being held at hotels—an apparent reference to Raj Thackeray's recent interaction with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at a five-star hotel in Mumbai. "What people want will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP,' Uddhav said. Uddhav Thackeray said that any attempts to impose Hindi in the state would be strongly opposed. 'The imposition of Hindi in the state will not be allowed at any cost. The BJP wants to create a divide among Marathi and Hindi-speakers on the eve of civic polls,' he said, expressing confidence that his party would retain control of Mumbai's civic body. Criticising the BJP-led Mahayuti's poll manifesto, which included promises such as monthly assistance of ₹2,100 for women under the Laadki Bahin scheme and loan waivers for farmers, Thackeray said the BJP had failed to deliver on those commitments after the assembly polls. He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging inconsistency in his stance towards the opposition. 'When the opposition contested the Lok Sabha polls by forming the INDIA group, PM Narendra Modi compared the opposition bloc to the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen,' Thackeray said, adding, 'after Operation Sindoor, Modi sent MPs of the same opposition bloc all over the world to present India's stand.' Thackeray further alleged hypocrisy in the BJP's anti-corruption stand. 'The BJP maligns opposition leaders with corruption charges, and then inducts them into the party,' he said. He urged BJP loyalists to speak out against this trend: 'If 'original' BJP workers have any self-respect, they should oppose the entry of people, whom they had accused of corruption in the past, in their party.' Responding to Uddhav Thackeray's criticism, Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde accused him of being power-hungry and said that's why he was now seeking an alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Shinde asserted that his faction continues to operate according to the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Shinde also pointed out that in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, the UBT faction failed to secure even one-third of the votes that his Shiv Sena received. 'Whatever votes they got was because of the Congress as the real Shiv Sena voters have bid them good bye,' he said. He further said, 'Balasaheb Thackeray opposed Congress, but those desperate for power aligned with that party as they are desperate for power. UBT has betrayed the Marathi people, Shiv Sena voters and have abandoned Hindutva.' Shinde didn't hold back on his personal attacks, saying, 'I have never seen a betrayer like Uddhav Thackeray who changes colours like a chameleon.' He reaffirmed his commitment to Hindutva, saying, 'I will never compromise on Hindutva for power.' Challenging Thackeray's political alliances, Shinde asked, 'Why do you hesitate to call Balasaheb as Hindu Hriday Samrat? You join hands with those who abuse Modi and (Amit) Shah who fulfilled Balasaheb's dream of Ram temple and abolishing Article 370. Why do you sit with those who abuse Savarkar and Hindu religion?' Shinde also accused Thackeray of harming national interests: 'Are you Indian or are you a Pakistani agent? Pakistan uses your statements against India,' he said, directly addressing Thackeray. He took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as well, saying, 'Rahul Gandhi has become a hero in Pakistan but is a zero in India.' Mocking the UBT faction's claim to Shiv Sena's legacy, Shinde said, 'How can a group formed on October 10, 2022, celebrate the Shiv Sena's 59th foundation day?'
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ex-corporators of Sena UBT hold meeting ahead of party's foundation day on Thursday
As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections draw closer, a section of former BMC corporators from the Shiv Sena (UBT) have urged party chief Uddhav Thackeray to consider forging an alliance with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), citing growing public sentiment among Marathi voters. The suggestion came during a meeting of former BMC corporators of Sena UBT at Matoshree, the residence of Thackerays in Bandra East, on Wednesday. The meeting of the corporators was convened ahead of 59th foundation day of Shiv Sena on Thursday. Both factions of the Shiv Sena are also set to hold the separate events in Mumbai. While the Shinde-led faction will host a large gathering at the NSCI Dome in Worli, the Sena (UBT) will continue its tradition by holding its event at the Shanmukhanand Hall in Sion. Uddhav and Shinde are both expected to pay tribute at Bal Thackeray's memorial at Shivaji Park earlier in the day, before addressing their respective cadres and sound a bugle for the upcoming civic body polls including the prestigious BMC. Speaking about the foundation day, Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said that 'the real Sena's foundation day–not the bogus Sena (Shinde led Sena)–would be celebrated at Shanmukhanand where party chief Uddhav Thackeray would clarify his stance on several issues. One of the former corporators who attended the meeting said they believed an alliance would strengthen the party's position in Mumbai and consolidate the Marathi vote base, especially in the face of pressure from the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. 'All Marathi people want the MNS and Sena (UBT) to come together for the sake of the Marathi community,' a party functionary who attended the meeting said. 'Uddhavji asked us whether the Sena (UBT) should explore an alliance with the MNS. We told him the atmosphere is conducive — especially if the two brothers decide to join hands.' Former corporator Suresh Patil added that the alliance could bring about a 'sea change' in Maharashtra's political landscape. 'Uddhavji asked us broadly whether alliances would help. We told him this one would help us 100%. The public is ready for it,' he said. The BMC, Asia's richest municipal corporation, has been under an administrator since March 2022, with elections pending due to ward delimitation and OBC reservation issues. Polls are expected to be held later this year, possibly in October or November, and are widely seen as a key political test for both factions of the Shiv Sena following the 2022 split. Some corporators also expressed concern about attempts by rival parties to lure them away. 'There is pressure, yes, and there are calls. But we made it clear to Uddhavji that we're not falling for it,' said former Mumbai mayor Snehal Ambekar. She said Thackeray had urged them to continue groundwork in their wards, monitor boundary changes and reservation adjustments, and stay connected with local officials. The meeting also marked the return of former corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar, who had recently stepped down as a party office-bearer, signalling an effort to close ranks ahead of the civic polls. The buzz around a possible Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance has been building in since April this year when Raj Thackeray in a podcast said that he may set aside personal disputes for the sake of Marathi people. Since then, there is a series of rapprochement signals and efforts from Sena UBT, banners featuring Raj and Uddhav. calling for unity between the two leaders and even with both parties participating in joint agitations.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ahead of Pune civic polls, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena eyeing leaders from other parties
Uncertain about any pre-poll alliance for the upcoming civic elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is going all out to make its presence felt in Pune city, where it has lost its sheen over the past few years, with only one of the 10 former corporators of the undivided party joining the Maharashtra deputy chief minister's faction. After the Shiv Sena split led to the distribution of workers between the Shinde-led party and the Shiv Sena (UBT) of Uddhav Thackeray three years ago, all the former corporators except for Nana Bhangire preferred to continue with Thackeray. A few of the nine leaders later joined the BJP, instead of any of the two Senas. Also, the Shinde-led Sena struggled to make its presence felt in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Sena first roped in former Congress legislator Ravindra Dhangekar with the responsibility of reviving the party in Pune city. 'We will induct leaders and workers from other political parties soon. The Shiv Sena's strength will increase in the city with a focus on preparing to contest civic polls independently,' said Sena leader Dhangekar, adding that it was not known whether there would be a pre-poll alliance with Mahayuti partners, the BJP and the NCP, before the civic elections. The Shiv Sena is all set to induct Congress leader Sonali Marne and other potential candidates for civic polls from other parties. 'I have decided to join the Shiv Sena as the Congress is not fulfilling its responsibility. The Congress is no more active,' said Marne. Dhangekar said there would soon be a party rally in the city, where Eknath Shinde would induct Marne and other leaders. Earlier, the Shiv Sena (UBT) inducted former MNS leader Vasant More to revive the party in Pune. The Opposition party has recently held protest rallies in the city against the ruling Mahayuti. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
