The 59th Foundation Day of Shiv Sena transformed into a dramatic battleground of fiery speeches and sharp personal attacks as rival factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde held parallel rallies in Mumbai on Thursday. What was meant to be a commemorative day for the party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray quickly spiraled into an open war for ideological supremacy and emotional ownership of his legacy.
While Uddhav Thackeray addressed a packed hall of loyalists at Shanmukhananda Auditorium in Sion, Eknath Shinde led his show of strength at the grand NSCI Dome in Worli. Both venues echoed with slogans invoking Balasaheb’s name—but beneath the surface, it was clear that the soul of Shiv Sena was being claimed by two distinctly different visions.
In a no-holds-barred speech, Uddhav accused the BJP and Shinde camp of systematically dismantling the Shiv Sena's identity. Referring to his opponents as "traitors" who sold out for power, he thundered, “Like Nana Patekar in Prahaar, I tell them—come, kill me! But bring an ambulance like in Trishul, because you’ll be the ones needing it.”
Uddhav painted himself as the victim of political treachery and positioned the Shiv Sena (UBT) as the last line of defense for Marathi self-respect. "They may snatch the symbol, but they can't steal Balasaheb’s ideology from our hearts," he declared, drawing cheers from the crowd.
In a swift and equally aggressive rebuttal, Eknath Shinde tore into Uddhav’s claims. Dismissing the emotional theatrics, Shinde said, “He says ‘kill me’—but politically, he’s already finished. The people of Maharashtra have given their verdict.”
Shinde accused Uddhav of betraying both party and ideology by aligning with the Congress and NCP. “Balasaheb never imagined his son would team up with those who insulted Savarkar and mocked Hindutva,” Shinde claimed. He further alleged that Uddhav’s politics were now driven by "desperation, not devotion."
The two events, though happening miles apart, were locked in a synchronized exchange of jabs. What was once a united political force is now a battlefield of broken alliances and bitter rhetoric.
