'It's Modi-Shah's Shiv Sena Now': Ad Featuring Shinde As 'Trusted' CM Over Fadnavis Sparks Row
The advertisement shows the Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol and images of PM Modi and CM Shinde himself. It does not include an image or photo of the late Shiv Sena founder, Balasaheb Thackeray
In a controversial move, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde placed a full-page advertisement titled "Modi for India, Shinde for Maharashtra" in several newspapers. The ad cited a survey that purportedly showed Shinde was being preferred over BJP's Devendra Fadnavis for the top post in the state, reported news agency PTI.
The advertisement triggered a response from Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), who referred to the party as "Modi-Shah's Shiv Sena." Deepak Kesarkar, a Shiv Sena leader and school education minister, dismissed the opposition's criticism, stating that Shinde and Fadnavis were working together like "brothers" and that their collaboration made others envious.
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The advertisement shows the Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol and images of PM Modi and CM Shinde himself. Notably, it does not include an image or photo of the late Shiv Sena founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, which deviates from the party's previous publicity materials.
The text on the advertisement read, "As much as 26.1% of the people of Maharashtra want Eknath Shinde as their CM and 23.2% wish to see Devendra Fadnavis in the post." Devendra Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader, served as the CM from 2014 to 2019.
The advertisement claims that these figures provide undeniable proof that 49.3% of the people in Maharashtra wish to see a strong alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena for the state's leadership.
The advertisement attributes the figures and claims to a Zee TV-Matrize survey. It further states, "According to the election surveys, 30.2 percent of citizens of Maharashtra prefer the Bharatiya Janata Party, while 16.2% of citizens prefer the Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde). These numbers reflect that 46.4% of the people of Maharashtra trust the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance for the development of the state."
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According to Zee News, 36,000 respondents, including 14,400 women, for the survey conducted between May 23 and June 11, came from all 288 Assembly segments of the state. The survey had an error margin of ±3%.
Sanjay Raut further said, "It was Balasaheb's Shiv Sena earlier, but the advertisement has cleared the air. It has now become Modi-Shah's Shiv Sena. Where is the image or photo of late Balasaheb Thackeray in the advertisement?" State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule downplayed the advertisement, emphasizing that election results determine the acceptability of parties and leaders.
Atul Londhe, the chief spokesperson of the Maharashtra unit of the Congress, dismissed the survey as false and accused Shinde of using it to promote himself. Londhe expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, would secure a significant number of seats in the upcoming elections.
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