Advertisement

Shinde's faction seeks to gain control over the trade unions linked to Thackeray

The BKS trade union has played a vital role in the growth of the Shiv Sena since its early years. Bal Thackeray himself ensured that his trusted leaders held key positions within the trade union.

Shinde's faction seeks to gain control over the trade unions linked to Thackeray
SHARES

The Shiv Sena party has been experiencing a power struggle within its trade unions, as the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeks to gain control over the trade unions associated with Uddhav Thackeray's faction. A detailed report in the Hindustan Times stated that these trade unions have been the driving force behind the party since its inception in the 1960s under the leadership of Bal Thackeray.

RKS Claims Takeover of Bombay Hospital

Kiran Pawaskar, the head of Rashtriya Kamgar Sena (RKS), which is aligned with Eknath Shinde's faction, made a noteworthy claim on Monday. He stated that RKS had successfully taken over Bombay Hospital, which was previously under the control of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (BKS), affiliated with Uddhav Thackeray's faction. Pawaskar mentioned that over 600 employees, including nurses and ward boys, had joined RKS, with the majority of the hospital staff now supporting their union.

Historical Significance of BKS and Shinde's Faction

The BKS trade union has played a vital role in the growth of the Shiv Sena since its early years. Bal Thackeray himself ensured that his trusted leaders held key positions within the trade union. After the passing of BKS chief Suryakant Mahadik, Uddhav Thackeray appointed MP Arvind Sawant as the new leader of BKS. However, Pawaskar, who had been the general secretary of BKS since the 1980s, switched sides and joined the Shinde faction following the party split.

RKS's Acquisition Spree

Pawaskar highlighted RKS's efforts to expand its influence beyond Bombay Hospital. He revealed that RKS had recently welcomed nearly 37,000 employees from the Janaseva Kashtakari Sanghatana in the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Additionally, around 4,500 teachers in BMC schools had joined their union. RKS aims to gradually acquire the remaining unions currently affiliated with BKS in the coming months.

Dismissal and Counterclaims

Arvind Sawant, the chief of BKS, dismissed Pawaskar's claims, labeling them as baseless. He referred to Pawaskar as a fraudulent individual who needed to prove his worth to the party. Sawant argued that many people had lost their jobs due to Pawaskar's actions. Sanjay Sawant, who heads the BKS unit at Bombay Hospital, added that only a hundred individuals had switched to RKS, highlighting their history of frequently changing unions.

Impact on Shiv Sena's Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti

The Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti, which was established in the 1960s to provide employment opportunities for locals, has also faced the consequences of the factional struggle within Shiv Sena. Gajanan Kirtikar, a veteran Sena leader, had long been at the helm of the organization. However, Kirtikar left the party last year to join the Shinde Sena, causing a significant setback for the Uddhav faction. Currently, the organization is led by Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai, and Shinde's faction plans to utilize Kirtikar's services to further their cause for the Marathi manoos.

RELATED TOPICS
Advertisement
MumbaiLive would like to send you latest news updates