MLA urges Sainiks to join ‘real Sena’ at BKC rally

Thane: Chief minister Eknath Shinde’s supporters have appealed Shiv Sainiks to join their cause claiming it was the real party as it’s taking ahead the legacy of Sena supremo late Balasaheb Thackeray and Thane Sena strongman late Anand Dighe.
Ahead of the much-talked about Dussehra rally, Sangola MLA Shahji Bapu Patil, who was in Thane last weekend, reiterated that the real Shiv Sena belonged to chief minister Eknath Shinde, and urged Sainiks to associate with the Shinde faction and attend his BKC Dussehra rally.
“Shinde is the real claimant to the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe, and the faction led by him is the real Shiv Sena. The real Sena is ours under the leadership of Shinde. We are appealing to those who have been left behind to come and join us, the real Shiv Sena which has been cemented by the massive support given by several MLAs and MPs, and even citizens of Maharashtra,” he said.
Patil also lashed out at his former boss and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, saying the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park will be nothing but a congregation of Congress and NCP workers, with nothing propagating the Hindutva ideology.
He also chided the Thackeray-faction for using the term “Baap chor”, khoka, gaddar, saying it reflected their unease by the sudden turn of events and change of power in the state.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Pravin Darekar, who was also in the city, also criticised the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena for deviating from the principles of Balasaheb. “The Thackeray Dussehra rally is likely to be an assembly of NCP Congress, AIMIM, and SP activists who are against the BJP. The true Hindutva legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray is being carried forward by Shinde and the real Dussehra rally will be at BKC,” he said.
Meanwhile, MP Rajan Vichare from the Thackeray-led Sena said while addressing an assembly of party loyalists that there was no reason to worry for those have left; the focus is on those loyal to the cause of the Sena led by Thackeray. “Thousands of Sainiks and Thackeray loyalists will assemble at Jambhali naka on Wednesday evening, and travel to Shivaji park by train and make the rally a thumping success,” said a party spokesperson.