Maharashtra Assembly Polls 2024: Shivaji temples becoming an issue between two Senas

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray promise to build temples of legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in all districts of Maharashtra once they come to power after the Vidhan Sabha polls has seen a strong response from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. 

“We will build temples of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in every district of Maharashtra and in every state in India,” Thackeray has been saying in his election rallies.

Thackeray had made the  assurance during the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park - and now he is asserting this in every election meetings and rallies. “The temples would have the life history of Shivaji Maharaj from where people can draw inspiration,” he had said. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde’s son Dr Shrikant Shinde has slammed Thackeray over the poll promise. 

“Those who had distanced themselves from Hinduism and the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray, are now proposing to build a temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” said Dr Shinde, the Kalyan MP, who is the Shiv Sena parliamentary party leader. “Balasaheb Thackeray stood firmly against Congress throughout his life, but some are now willing to align with Congress for power,” he stated.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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