Two different functions celebrating the Shiv Sena party foundation day were held in Mumbai almost simultaneously. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) celebrated the party’s foundation day at Shanmukhananda Hall in Matunga, while Eknath Shinde’s faction celebrated at the Worli Dome in South Mumbai.
Former chief minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray thanked all communities in the country who have supported his faction and the INDI alliance candidates in the rest of the country. As was expected, Uddhav began his speech by stating that the current Modi government “will soon fall and that the people of India have rejected them.”
“BJP always criticises us, saying we have strayed from Hindutva and are no longer connected to it. But let me ask them, what kind of Hindutva do their new allies Nitish Kumar, Manjhi, and Chandrababu follow? Nitish once said he wants to see an RSS-free India, and now he is sitting with BJP. Chandrababu has criticised PM Modi many times, and Manjhi has said that Ram and Krishna are imaginary. Are these your natural allies,” questioned Uddhav Thackeray.
Uddhav further warned the Bharatiya Janata Party against teaching him and his faction about ‘Hindutva’. “I have learned the true essence of Hindutva from my grandfather and father, so I don’t need any lessons from BJP and its leaders,” he said. Uddhav also responded to the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders who criticise Shiv Sena (UBT) for garnering votes from Muslims instead of their traditional Marathi voters.
“Today, many people from the Muslim community are present in this hall. They know that if Shiv Sena has to oppose them, it will do so openly, not stab them in the back like others. Many times, we have seen photos of BJP leaders wearing skullcaps. Have BJP’s new alliance partners Nitish and Chandrababu promised anything to Muslims in their states? What does BJP have to say about that,” questioned Uddhav Thackeray.
As Maharashtra approaches the state assembly polls, the recent success of Uddhav’s party has certainly boosted their morale and confidence. Uddhav has challenged the Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena to compete with his faction face-to-face in the upcoming elections without using the name and symbol of the Shiv Sena party or the photograph of Balasaheb Thackeray. Uddhav also challenged PM Modi to start campaigning in the state for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, asserting that PM Modi will have to face him.
Uddhav mocked the BJP for appointing two state in-charges for the upcoming state elections, pointing out their alleged failures. “Those who have failed as ministers have been appointed as state in-charges by BJP for the state elections. Vaishnav has failed miserably in handling the Railway Ministry, with many accidents occurring during his tenure. Bhupendra Yadav also has no good track record,” Uddhav said.
In his speech, Uddhav urged his party workers and leaders that this ‘battle’ has just started and should not be halted until victory is achieved. He also asked them to work hard for the upcoming election of 11 MLC seats next month and for the teachers and graduate constituency elections, which Shiv Sena is also contesting. Uddhav ordered his party workers to win all these elections. “In this election, we have shown people that no one is unbeatable, including Modi,” said Uddhav in his speech.
Uddhav is also of the opinion that the current Modi government may fall soon and there could be possibility that mid term polls or re-election may happen, hence, in such scenario “my leaders who didn’t win, will again contest election and win that election.”
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