Shiv Sena camps spar over shakha during celebrations for Holi in Thane

THANE: Tension prevailed in Shivaji Nagar for over three hours on Monday night, following a face-off between members of chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray camp over ownership of a local shakha, locals said.
Residents who had gathered to celebrate Holi claimed they were forced to witness the arguments, which could have escalated into violence had it not been for the timely intervention of police.
This is the fourth confrontation between the camps over shakha ownership since July last year and observers fear a repeat in the coming days as elections draw closer in the CM’s city.
Locals said the shakha in the Sena stronghold was used by both groups initially, but one group allegedly changed the lock recently, which angered the other.