Thane, May 17 – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde launched a sharp attack on the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Friday, accusing it of forsaking the Hindutva principles championed by the late Balasaheb Thackeray for political gains.
The remarks came just ahead of the Mumbai launch of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s new book titled “Narkatla Swarg” (Heaven in Hell), scheduled for unveiling on Saturday evening.
Speaking to the media in Thane, Shinde said, "Had they remained loyal to the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray, they wouldn't have fallen into hell and reduced to a position today where they are now searching for heaven." The statement appeared to be a veiled jab at both the title of Raut’s book and the political direction of the Thackeray-led faction.
Shinde reiterated that Balasaheb was a staunch proponent of Hindutva and held Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in high regard. “Balasaheb had recognised their commitment and work for Gujarat and the nation. His foresight identified them as the rightful torch-bearers of Hindutva,” he stated.
Though Shinde did not mention Uddhav Thackeray by name, his criticism was pointed. He accused the current Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership of compromising Balasaheb’s core ideology by aligning with the Congress. "They have strayed far from his legacy and will never understand the reasons behind his decisions," he added.
The rift within the Shiv Sena deepened in 2022 when Shinde led a rebellion that split the party, ultimately resulting in Uddhav Thackeray stepping down as Maharashtra Chief Minister.
