Maharashtra Dussehra rally: Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday launched a scathing attack on each other’s parties while addressing separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) rally was held at Shivaji Park while the Ekanth Shinde’s rally at Azad Maidan.

Holding their respective rallies, both Thackeray and Shinde set the tone for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.

Both the leaders also claimed that the real Shiv Sena belongs to them.

While claiming that they freed Shiv Sena from those who betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals, Eknath Shinde said that earlier everyone thought that the Shinde government would fall in 2–3 months. However, the government completed 2 years. “If the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government had not been removed, Maharashtra would have been left far behind,” claimed Shinde. Whereas, taking a swipe at the BJP and the Shinde government, Thackeray said that he is ready to fight against the Delhi rule and ‘corrupt’ government.

What Uddhav Said:

— BJP is like Kauravas, smacks of arrogance.

— Parted ways with BJP as I don’t believe in its version of Hindutva.

— BJP should be ashamed of calling itself Bharatiya, it no longer belongs to people.

— I am ready to fight against this Delhi rule and corrupt government.

— Ratan Tata had the legacy of his father and I have the legacy of my father Balasaheb Thackeray. “We are the real Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray’s name is with me.”

— Will build temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji in every Maharashtra district when we come to power.

“It (Mahayuti government) built the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj only for votes and that statue collapsed, but I want to tell you and promise you that when we come to power, we will build a temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in every district of Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a vote bank for them, but for us he is God.”

What Eknath Shinde Said

— MVA’s Lok Sabha poll success in Maharashtra accidental, not permanent.

— Shiv Sena won 7 seats in direct fight against Sena (UBT) in Lok Sabha polls which shows we are real Shiv Sena.

— Our government started the Dharavi project and I want to tell the people of Dharavi that no matter what the opposition says, our government is going to give you good houses.

— “Earlier Babu (Uddhav Thackeray) used to wake up, take a bath and go live on Facebook. People never liked Babu’s leadership, that’s why people brought down his government,” reported ANI quoting Shinde.

— Mahayuti government is going to be formed in Maharashtra.

— I thank the Prime Minister for giving Marathi the status of a classical language.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the rival Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) are scheduled to hold Dussehra rallies in Mumbai in a show of strength as the Assembly elections in Maharashtra nears. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold its rally at the historic Shivaji Park in Dadar, Shinde will address his faction at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.

Both venues have been left muddy after Thursday night’s heavy rains. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut assured that this will not affect the event.

Transport sources said Shinde-led Sena has booked 3,000 private buses to ferry its workers to the venue. Shiv Sena leader and former MP Rahul Shewale said around 2 lakh people are expected to attend the rally at Azad Maidan to hear the chief minister. 

In the lead-up to the rallies, both factions have released teasers. The Shinde-led group’s teaser features a tiger marked with “Sena” being bound to the Congress with a rope, symbolising betrayal. The animation then shows Chief Minister Shinde cutting the rope with an arrow, symbolizing his emergence. When will Maharashtra assembly elections be held? CEC Rajiv Kumar says…

In its teaser, the Shiv Sena (UBT) talks about saving Maharashtra’s pride and burying “traitors”, a reference to MLAs who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray, leading to the collapse of his government in Maharashtra. At the rally, Uddhav Thackeray, who blames the BJP for splitting his party, is also expected to launch attacks on its former ally.

A senior Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) official said, unlike in the past, the Shinde faction has requested buses from the state transporter’s fleet but no payment had been done till late afternoon.

Ahead of the Maharashtra elections next month, the rallies are expected to boost the morale of the workers from both the sides. The term of the current assembly ends on November 26.

The Dusherra rally holds an important place for the undivided Sena as, since the 1960s, it was addressed by the party’s founder Bal Thackeray from Shivaji Park. After the split in the Shiv Sena in June 2022, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party continued to hold rallies at Shivaji Park. The Shinde-led Sena first held its rally at the MMRDA ground in Bandra Kurla Complex. Since the last two years, the Shinde group has been holding rallies at Azad Maidan.