'Thief Needs to be Taught Lesson': Uddhav Tears Into Shinde After EC Setback, Says Battle Has Begun

Launching a scathing attack on Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, former CM Uddhav Thackeray asked his supporters to teach a lesson to the “thief” who stole the party’s `bow and arrow’ symbol and announced that his faction will contest the election with the ‘torch’ symbol.

His remarks came after the Election Commission of India recognized Eknath Shinde faction as the “real” Shiv Sena.

“I’d like to say that they want the face of Bal Thackeray, they want the election symbol but not the family of Shiv Sena. PM Narendra Modi needs the mask of Balasaheb Thackeray to come to Maharashtra. People of the state know which face is real and which isn’t,” news agency ANI quoted Uddhav Thackeray as saying.

Addressing party workers outside the Thackeray residence `Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra from a car with a sunroof, Uddhav challenged the Eknath Shinde faction and said the battle has begun.

“Thieves were given the holy ‘bow & arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ (Mashaal) can be taken away. I challenge them – if they’re men, come in front us even with the stolen ‘bow and arrow’, we will contest the election with ‘torch’. This is our test, the battle has begun,” he told his supporters. 

Thackeray had to resign as Maharashtra Chief Minister last June after Shinde rebelled against Thackeray’s leadership, claiming the support of 40 of the 56 Sena MLAs and 13 of its 18 Lok Sabha members.

Chief Minister Shinde would not be able to carry off the “stolen bow and arrow” and will collapse like the mythological demon king Ravana who could not lift the Shiv Dhanush, he said.

‘Will You Ever Introspect?’ Shinde Hits Back at Uddhav’s ‘Theft’ Remark

Targeting Uddhav, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said he is making lakhs of people thieves and accused him of selling out the ideology of Bal Thackeray in 2019.

“Someone called us thieves. You are making lakhs of people thieves. 50 MLAs, 13 MPs, hundreds of public representatives and lakhs of workers are thieves. Will you ever introspect? Try to improve now. Merit is with us, the majority is with us. This was expected as the majority was with us. In a democracy, is majority important or minority important?” Shinde asked.

Hailing the move, CM Eknath Shinde said this win is of teachings of Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe. “It’s a victory of democracy. This country runs on the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. We formed our Government on the basis of that Constitution. The EC order that came today is on the basis of merit. I express my gratitude to the Election Commission,” he added.

Following the EC’s order, Eknath Shinde updated his display picture on Twitter and put up Shiv Sena’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol as the picture.

EC Says Shinde Faction is ‘Real’ Shiv Sena

In the order, the Election Commission observed that the current Constitution of the Shiv Sena is “undemocratic. It has been mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all. Such party structures fail to inspire confidence, the EC added

 The EC observed 40 MLAs, supporting the Shinde faction, garnered 36,57,327 votes out of total 47,82,440 votes i.e ~76% of votes polled in favour of 55 winning MLAs. This contrasts with 11,25,113 votes garnered by 15 MLAs whose support is claimed by the Thackeray faction. As against 90,49,789, total votes polled by Shiv Sena in the Maharashtra Assembly election in 2019 (including the losing candidates), votes polled by 40 MLAs supporting the petitioner come to ~40 % whereas votes polled by 15 MLAs supporting the Respondents come to ~12% of total votes.

13 MPs supporting the Shinde faction garnered 74,88,634 votes out of total 1,02,45143 votes i.e ~73% of votes polled in favor of 18 MPs in Lok Sabha polls 2019. This contrasts with 27,56,509 votes garnered by 5 MPs supporting Thackeray faction i.e ~ 27% of votes polled in favour of 18 MPs.