MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a Dussehra rally at Shivaji Maharaj Park and urged him to hold elections in the state, asserting that the election results would reveal “who the public thinks is the real Shiv Sena”.
Addressing the Dussehra rally in Shivaji Maharaj Park, Uddhav Thackeray said, “We approached the Supreme court on MLAs disqualification matter, and Assembly Speaker told decision in this regard will be taken in a time bound manner. I want to tell them to forget this matter. Conduct elections and the people of Maharashtra will tell you who is the real Shivsena. I challenged you to conduct elections if you have power.”
“I challenge the government to conduct elections of Municipal corporations, Vidhansabha and Loksabha we are ready for elections and we will come into government for sure. We will show our power to you,” he added.
Shiv Sena (Shinde group) and Shiv Sena (UBT), last year, locked horns over organising the annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, where the party has been holding the rally since 1966, indicating the significance of this venue for both of them.
However, the Bombay High Court ruled in favour of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park.
This came after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) refused to give permission to the two factions to hold the rally, based on the local police report, which said that the event may cause law and order issues in the area.
Shiv Sena was divided into two factions and the rally was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (ANI)