What Makes Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde Say That Uddhav Thackeray 'Can Form Alliance Even With Hamas'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his concerns on Tuesday, 24th October, regarding the political maneuvers of Uddhav Thackeray and his Shiv Sena faction, suggesting that they might form alliances with terrorist groups "Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba" for their own "selfishness".

In a speech delivered at a Dussehra rally in Azad Maidan, Shinde remarked, "For their own selfish interests, they may forge partnerships with Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba."

Shinde's remarks were in the context of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) forming a coalition with the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, as part of the Opposition's INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

As per media reports, he also alluded to an incident from 2004 when Shiv Sena's founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, famously used a slipper to strike an effigy of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. Shinde stated, "Mani Shankar Aiyar's image was struck with a shoe. Today, they (Shiv Sena (UBT)) are picking up the shoes of Congress."

Furthermore, Shinde questioned why the Shiv Sena (UBT) would join forces with the Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, given that Uddhav Thackeray had allied with a party that had been involved in a controversial incident in which police opened fire on 'karsevaks'.

Apparently, Eknath Shinde was referring to an incident in Ayodhya from 1990, when Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav had allegedly asked police to open fire on karsevaks in an effort to deter them from advancing toward the Babri Masjid.

The Maharashtra CM also alleged that after the Election Commission of India granted his party the symbol and party name, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded Rs 50 crore that the undivided party had amassed through donations. He claimed to have received a call about it and said that he handed over the money in a matter of minutes.

Thackeray and Shinde, leaders of separate factions of the Shiv Sena, held separate rallies on Dussehra on Tuesday, 24th October.

WHAT MADE EKNATH SHINDE AND UDDHAV THACKERAY BITTER POLITICAL RIVALS?

In June 2022, a political earthquake shook Maharashtra state government as Eknath Shinde, along with 39 MLAs, staged a walkout and openly rebelled against the Shiv Sena's leadership. This rebellion resulted in a deep fissure within the party and the subsequent downfall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. The Maha Vikas Aghadi government, led by Uddhav Thackeray with a coalition of the NCP and Congress, crumbled in the wake of this revolt.

In the aftermath, Eknath Shinde took charge and forged a new coalition government in Maharashtra, aligning with the BJP. On June 30, 2022, Shinde was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, with the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis serving as his deputy.

Since then, the Shinde and Thackeray factions of the Shiv Sena have remained embroiled in a fierce power struggle. Eknath Shinde's ascendancy to the position of Chief Minister triggered a crucial floor test in the Maharashtra legislative assembly. He emerged victorious, securing 164 votes in his favor, while 99 members opposed his leadership.

Moving ahead to October 2022, the Election Commission (EC) allocated the symbol of a flaming torch, or "mashal," to Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction. Additionally, they granted the faction the name "Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray."

Subsequently, in February this year, the Election Commission of India took a decision that further solidified the division. They provided Eknath Shinde's team with the "bow and arrow" symbol while allowing them to retain the name "Shiv Sena."

This ongoing saga of political strife and division within the Shiv Sena has continued to be a significant and evolving narrative in Maharashtra's political landscape.