Maharashtra Politics Heats Up on Shiv Sena Foundation Day as Shinde, Uddhav Clash Over Legacy

Political tensions flared in Maharashtra on Thursday during the celebration of Shiv Sena’s Foundation Day, as both Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray claimed the true legacy of the party. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who leads the faction aligned with the BJP, asserted himself as the rightful heir of Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, calling his group the "real" Sena.In response, Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on both Shinde and the BJP, accusing them of conspiring to break the original Shiv Sena. Thackeray reiterated that the soul of Balasaheb’s ideology remains with him and his supporters. Both factions held massive gatherings and demonstrated their respective strengths in a political show of force.This latest showdown reflects the ongoing rivalry between the two factions ever since the 2022 political split, when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion that toppled the Uddhav-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The public celebration has once again turned into a battleground of identity, loyalty, and political power.As the battle over Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy deepens, the Shiv Sena appears more divided than ever, keeping Maharashtra’s political landscape in constant flux.