After the split in Shiv Sena, Mumbai is witnessing two separate Dussehra Melava (rallies) for the second time.
On this occasion, Ravan Dahan was done at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
A chair was kept vacant on the stage, symbolising it as that of late Bal Thackeray.
During his address, Shinde took a veiled attack at Thackeray and alleged that they are the "actual traitors". Uddhav and his party leaders are real traitor of Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology and Hindutava.
Slamming further for alliance with Congress, he asserted: “I won’t be surprised if they merge with Congress. Instead of being proud as Hindu, they are now proud to join hands with socialists, Congress. They will even join hands with Owaisi. Further even hug Lashkar e Toiba or Hizabul Mujahideen.”
“Ever since I become the Chief Minister, they (Thackerays) have been claiming that I will be dethroned and the government will fall. But the government has become stronger with over 200 MLAs supporting us. I have no desire for power as the people of Maharashtra are with me,” he added.
Claiming that the Thackerays sought INR 50 crore in the bank account of the party after the Election Commission gave the party name and symbol to Shinde-led group, the CM said that he never thought twice before giving them the money.
२४-१०-२०२३ 📍आझाद मैदान, मुंबई शिवसेनेचा भव्य दसरा मेळावा https://t.co/qgQWpg1zu0
— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 24, 2023
Unlike last year, the allotment of Shivaji Park to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) for the Dussehra rally this year was a smooth sail. The Sena faction led by incumbent Shinde withdrew its claim over the venue to hold its rally and decided to do it at Azad Maiden.
Speaking on this, CM Shinde said that he could have held the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. But being the head of the state, it is his responsibility to ensure peace in the state.
“No matter how much you criticise us, the people of this country made NDA win in 2014 and in 2019. It will be the same in 2024. We will win 45 Lok Sabha seats. Maharashtra stands behind Narendra Modi strongly,” he concluded.
Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray Dussehra Rally: Party workers, leaders take a dig at the Shinde group
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