Battle For Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray & Eknath Shinde Clash On Shiv Sena Foundation Day
Mumbai: The rift within Shiv Sena took center stage once again as both factions — led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde — held separate events on Thursday to mark the party’s Foundation Day. With the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in sight, both leaders launched scathing attacks on each other, each claiming to be the true custodian of Marathi identity in Mumbai.
Uddhav Thackeray: "We Will Erase BJP from Maharashtra"
UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray used the occasion to criticize the BJP and Shinde faction, warning against forced imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra’s schools. “If you want to pit two Hindus against each other in Mumbai or force Hindi, let CM Devendra Fadnavis try — he will not succeed,” he said, reminding how Shiv Sena had protected Hindi speakers in the 1993 riots. He accused the BJP of using linguistic and communal issues to divert attention from corruption and administrative failure.
Highlighting the recent Supreme Court decision that scrapped a Rs3,000 crore tender linked to Shinde’s camp, Thackeray questioned the government's credibility. He also slammed the Dharavi redevelopment deal, accusing the state of favoring Adani with free land and stamp duty waivers while ignoring crucial welfare schemes like the Ladki Bhin Yojana.
“Will this government do anything for Maharashtra? And will the people ever demand answers from them?” he asked the public.
On the possibility of a political alliance with Raj Thackeray’s MNS, Uddhav said he was open to discussions, but claimed BJP and Shinde’s supporters were deliberately sabotaging any such move. “If Mumbai returns to Marathi hands, their masters will be in trouble,” he warned, adding, “If they try to erase the Thackeray brand, we will wipe their names from Maharashtra.”
Thackeray did not hold back from targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. “The country needs a Prime Minister of India, not just of the BJP. Are you home ministers, or home-breakers and party-breakers?” he asked.
He condemned the BJP’s comparison of the INDIA bloc with the banned Indian Mujahideen, asking, “If we are terrorists, why did your government use our MPs in campaigns like Operation Sindoor?” He also criticized the BJP’s silence over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of mediating peace between India and Pakistan, and accused Modi of being inactive despite earlier boasting about resolving the Ukraine war.
Taking aim at BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, Uddhav said, “Decide who your real leader is. Our only leader is Balasaheb Thackeray.”
Eknath Shinde: "Uddhav Is Politically Dead"
In a fiery response, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) chief Eknath Shinde launched a counteroffensive, accusing Uddhav of betrayal and hypocrisy. “Uddhav says ‘Come on, kill me’. But how do you kill someone who’s already politically dead?” he said, referring to the UBT’s low strike rate in the last Assembly elections.
“I am the true Shiv Sainik of Balasaheb. We don’t provoke anyone, but if provoked, we won’t spare anyone,” Shinde declared. He accused Uddhav of abandoning Hindutva and compromising Balasaheb’s legacy for power. “If Balasaheb were alive today, he would have punished Uddhav for aligning with Congress,” he added.
Shinde questioned Uddhav’s patriotism and Marathi pride, asking whether he had ever visited the families of terror attack victims. He also accused the UBT-led Sena of widespread corruption during their rule, citing scandals related to COVID body bags, the Mithi river cleanup, and even school mid-day meals. “Your party looted even during road construction,” he alleged.
“Now suddenly he remembers to fight for Mumbai?” Shinde mocked. “When in power, he looted the BMC treasury. Now he acts like a savior?”
Reiterating his loyalty to Maharashtra, Shinde said, “Mumbai and Maharashtra will never be separated. This rally is of Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena. Theirs is of those desperate for power.”
On the potential UBT-MNS alliance, Shinde mocked the desperation behind such political moves. “How low will you (Uddhav)go? You once opposed them, and now you want an alliance?”
He ended with a strong Hindutva commitment: “Till the last drop of my blood, I will never compromise on Hindutva. We won’t trade our ideology for power.”
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