The Maharashtra Dussehra rally witnessed a heated exchange between Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as they both addressed separate rallies in Mumbai. Thackeray and Shinde traded sharp criticisms and set the stage for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.
Both leaders claimed ownership of the true Shiv Sena, with Shinde asserting that he had liberated the party from those who had strayed from Balasaheb Thackeray’s principles. He highlighted the stability of the current government and took a dig at the BJP and Shinde government’s performance.
Thackeray, on the other hand, took aim at the BJP, likening them to the Kauravas and accusing them of arrogance. He distanced himself from the BJP’s version of Hindutva and expressed his readiness to confront the central government and what he viewed as a corrupt regime.
Thackeray also emphasized his family legacy and his commitment to building temples of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in every district of Maharashtra once in power. He criticized the Mahayuti government for what he saw as opportunistic gestures towards the Maratha king.
Shinde, in response, pointed to the MVA’s success in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra as a sign of their legitimacy as the true Shiv Sena. He highlighted government projects like the Dharavi redevelopment and expressed confidence in the future formation of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.
Overall, the Dussehra rallies showcased the deep divisions and political ambitions of key players in Maharashtra politics, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election season.
