Thackeray vs Shinde: Verdict Ends 16-Month Shiv Sena Feud

January 12, 2024: In a decisive turn of events, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Rahul Narvekar, brought closure to the prolonged power struggle between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions within the Shiv Sena. Late on Wednesday night, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emerged victorious, with Speaker Narvekar affirming that the ‘real Shiv Sena’ is under Shinde’s leadership. In response to the verdict, Shinde asserted that the ruling signifies the demise of dictatorship and dynasticism within the party.

Following Shinde’s comments, MP Sanjay Raut from the Thackeray group directly targeted Shinde, pointing to the Chief Minister’s son, Shrikant Shinde, and accusing him of perpetuating dynastic politics. The Thackeray group then questioned whether Shinde would apply the same scrutiny to dynastic connections within the Bharatiya Janata Party.

What Chief Minister Shinde Stated: Chief Minister Shinde, buoyed by the verdict, emphasized the importance of majority rule in a democracy. He highlighted the party’s majority in both the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha, emphasizing the Election Commission’s acknowledgment of Shiv Sena’s authenticity. Shinde stressed that arbitrary decisions by party leaders are unacceptable in a democratic setup. He maintained that the party leader’s opinion cannot be deemed as the collective stance of the entire party, reiterating the party’s non-private ownership principle.

Investigating BJP Dynastic Links: In response to Shinde’s critique of dynasticism, the Thackeray group, in today’s ‘Samana,’ pointed fingers at Chief Minister Shinde’s own dynastic connections. They called for an announcement disassociating Shrikant Shinde from his father’s political influence before criticizing dynastic practices. The Thackeray faction reminded Chief Minister Shinde that Shrikant Shinde had become an MP twice on Uddhav Thackeray’s nomination.

Dynastic Accusations Beyond Shiv Sena: Expanding their critique, the Thackeray group highlighted dynastic links across various political families, including those of Devendra Fadnavis, Narayan Rane, and others. They questioned relationships within the BJP, suggesting ties between Gangadhar Fadnavis and Devendra Fadnavis and drawing parallels between Jai Shah and cricketer Amit Shah. The group urged investigations into the connections of families like Vikhepatil, Munde Parivar, Laturat Nilangekar, and others with the BJP.

Tomorrow’s Predictions on Dynastic Rule: The Thackeray group speculated that Chief Minister Shinde might criticize Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s dynastic legacy in the future. They argued that only those with family ties to certain thoughts could continue a dynastic legacy of ideas. Questioning the rulership of Maharashtra, the group pointed to figures like Udayan Raje, stating that Shinde should also label such associations as dynastic.

Criticism of Chief Minister Shinde: In a scathing critique, the Thackeray group accused Chief Minister Shinde of speaking nonsense while being metaphorically enslaved. They contended that the hysteria surrounding Shinde and his allies would be short-lived. Dismissing the Speaker’s decision as not final, the Thackeray group predicted a downfall for the families involved, concluding with a declaration that Maharashtra belongs to the legacy of Ramshastri, not ‘Ch’dam’shastri.’