The recent Dussehra rally in Mumbai was a battleground between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray, the chief minister of Maharashtra and the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) respectively. The rivalry between these two leaders was evident as they engaged in a war of words, with Shinde recalling his rebellion in 2022 that led to a split in Shiv Sena.
Shinde emphasized that the government led by him managed to complete 2 years despite initial doubts about its stability. He also took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership style, mentioning that the people did not support him, leading to the downfall of his government. Shinde went on to compare Shiv Sena (UBT) with AIMIM, accusing them of appeasement politics.
During the rally, Shinde defended the Dharavi rehabilitation project, stating that the government is committed to providing good houses to the people of Dharavi. On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray criticized the project, alleging that it was sold to Adani and promised to cancel it if his party comes to power.
Uddhav Thackeray also highlighted the collapse of the Chhattrapati Shivaji statue, criticizing the Mahayuti government for building it just for votes. He promised to build a temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in every district of Maharashtra if his party wins the election. Thackeray also expressed his discontent with the views of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, questioning their efforts to save Hindutva in the last decade.
The rally between Shinde and Thackeray showcased the ongoing power struggle within Shiv Sena, setting the stage for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. The verbal sparring and promises made by both leaders reflect their aspirations to lead the state in the future. It remains to be seen how these political dynamics will unfold as the election dates are expected to be announced soon.
