#ShivSena's Dussehra tradition breaks with Thackeray vs Shinde Faceoff

 

 

On the eve of Vijayadashami, the people of Maharashtra witnessed yet another political drama with the two groups of Shivsena; one lead by Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackrey's son and Former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray and the other lead by staunch follower of Dharmveer Anand Dighe, Shivsainik and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, engaging into a war of words.

 

 

 

 

It was a competitive day for both the groups who were racing to gather maximum Shivsainiks for their Dussehra address. This has happened for the first time in the history of Maharashtra and of Shivsena as well, that Shivsainiks and Shivsena supporters were compelled to choose one destination among the two different programs organized by Thackeray and Shinde.

 

The Dussehra celebrations are significant for Shivsainiks as the party has a tradition of celebrating the day with grandeur at Chhatrapati Shivaji Park in Dadar, where the Party head, earlier Balasaheb and yesterday Uddhav Thackeray pledges for the party's policy for the year to come. The tradition was put on a break, with the political divide in Shivsena, this year.

 

 

 

 

 

The eve started with Uddhav Thackeray continuing his father and Founder of Shivsena, Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy along with his family's support with him, on one side and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde claiming himself to be the true inheritor of Balasaheb's Hindutvavadi ideology, on the other. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction performed 'Raavan Dahan' at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, the traditional venue for the party's Dussehra celebration since its inception in 1966.

 

The titles given to the gatherings of both the leaders were suggestive of their political stand amidst an enraged chaos in the party; 'Eknishtha' (meaning faithful) was the title at Uddhav Thackeray's gathering and 'Garv se kaho..Hum Hindu hai' (meaning Proud to be a Hindu) was the title at Eknath Shinde's gathering.

 

 

 

 

 

The war of words started with Uddhav Thackeray taking a shot at Eknath Shinde calling him 'Katappa', who betrayed the party. Referring to the famous character 'Katappa' of the film Baahubali, Thackeray said those who were given all the benefits, betrayed Shiv Sena. He said, "Those whom we gave everything have betrayed us and those who were not given anything, are all together. This Sena is not of one or two but of all of you. As long as you are with me, I will be the leader of the party. The only thing I feel bad and angry about is that when I was admitted to the hospital, the people whom I gave the responsibility (of the state) became 'Katappa' and betrayed us... They were cutting me and thinking that I will never return from the hospital," added Thackeray.

 

Uddhav Thackeray questioned, "What about giving strength to women's power or women's rights when it came to Ankita Bhandari Uttarakhand murder case, which as per news reports, happened at a BJP leader's resort." He then went ahead to challenge the Shinde faction to come on one stage and speak about Hindutva without taking the script from BJP.

 

 

 

 

 

Whereas, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and leaders from his faction attended the Shiv Sena Dussehra rally on the MMRDA ground. Shinde also paid his tributes to Balasaheb Thackeray's chair. 'Shashtr pooja' was performed on the 51 feet sword for which a Mahant was called from Ayodha in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, Balasaheb Thackeray's son Jaidev Thackeray came to show his support and shared the stage with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde during Dussehra rally at Mumbai's MMRDA ground.

 

Addressing the crowd, Shinde hit back at Thackeray and said, "They call me 'Katappa'. I want to tell you, that even 'Katappa' had self-respect and was not double standard like you. This is not your (Uddhav Thackeray) private Limited company. The Shiv Sena is of shiv-sainiks who have given their sweat for it. Not for people like you, who did partnerships and sold it." Eknath Shinde lambasted his former party leader Uddhav Thackeray over the alliance with Congress and called him a traitor. "Balasaheb Thackeray made an alliance with BJP. You did gaddari, we are not gaddar. You have committed a sin... go apologize to Balasaheb samadhi at Shivaji park".

 

 

 

 

 

Shinde further lauded his governance and said that while Uddhav Thackeray betrayed the people of Maharashtra and sold the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, he has brought about a revolution. "You point at us for stealing your father but you have sold your father and the packed ground here is an example of it," he said. Shiv Sena's Shinde faction leader Ramdas Kadam called out Uddhav Thackeray saying, "Even your brother, cousins or Raj Thackeray are not with you Uddhav ji, if you cannot even keep your family intact, how will you keep the state intact?"

 

 

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