The political clash between the two Shiv Sena factions has taken an aggressive turn, spilling out of the Maharashtra Assembly and onto the streets of Pune. Days after Aaditya Thackeray slammed Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the Assembly, his remarks have sparked a fierce counterattack from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which has now launched a poster campaign across Pune.
The campaign, spearheaded by Shiv Sena Pune City Chief Pramod (Nana) Bhangire, features posters portraying Aaditya Thackeray in caricature form, mocking his political position and lineage. One prominent poster reads,
"This battery will soon get drained... it runs on nepotism."
Another directly references the Mithi River Development Scam, hinting at possible arrests:
"Just keep counting... see how many will land in jail."
These provocative posters have been placed at key intersections and public areas in the city, indicating a clear attempt to take the factional fight to the public sphere — ahead of the upcoming civic body elections.
The war of words began earlier this week when Aaditya Thackeray, without naming Shinde directly, accused him of betrayal and opportunism. Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA called Shinde “thankless, shameless, and a traitor” for breaking away from the Uddhav-led government despite being entrusted with the critical Urban Development portfolio.
The tensions were further heightened when Opposition leader Bhaskar Jadhav accused Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar of partiality during a Rule 293 debate session, alleging that opposition voices were being suppressed in the House.
Meanwhile, the political atmosphere in the state is also charged over the government's controversial decision to rename Islampur as Ishwarpur. Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh criticized the move, calling it a distraction from real issues.
“Rename Islampur as Ishwarpur, do everything, but also work for people’s welfare. There’s no drinking water, no roads, no gardens, no public spaces. People are living in increasingly worse conditions. How long will you fool people like this?” Shaikh said.
