Sena vs Sena, this time over annual Dussehra rally

The annual Dussehra rally has been a Shiv Sena tradition ever since the party’s inception.

While both factions, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray respectively, are asserting that they are the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, it is the Thackeray faction that has sought formal permission to hold the rally. The ball is now in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s court.

“I am not aware of what the Thackeray-led Sena has done…But as a home minister, I can say everything will be done as per law. Nothing will go against the law,” Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the Home minister, said.

The annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park was started by the late Bal Thackeray in 1966 after the launch of the Shiv Sena. The overwhelming response to the rally marked the success of the Shiv Sena and its leadership. The Sena leader used this rally to spell out the party’s policies and programmes. After Bal Thackeray’s demise, Uddhav Thackeray took the stage to address Sainiks.

Exercising caution, Fadnavis also refrained from commenting on who the real Sena was. Responding to a question on the Supreme Court referring matters related to the issue to a larger bench, Fadnavis said, “Whatever is within law will happen. Nothing will happen outside law.”

Fadnavis also commented on senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad quitting the party. “Congress is a sinking boat. Nobody wants to remain. I am not in the know of details. Azad has cited reasons for his decision. From what I read, his reasons seem valid,” Fadnavis said.