Shiv Sena Foundation Day Turns Into Political Battlefield: Uddhav Dares, Shinde Strikes Back

Mumbai, June 20 – The 59th Foundation Day of Shiv Sena on Thursday erupted into a war of words as rival factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held parallel events in Mumbai, turning a day of legacy into a display of fiery rhetoric, political chest-thumping, and mutual accusations of betrayal.

Uddhav Thackeray, leading the Shiv Sena (UBT), delivered a powerful and emotionally charged speech at Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion. Drawing from Bollywood to underscore his defiance, he invoked a famous line from the 1991 film Prahaar, daring his political opponents: “Come on, kill me!” He added, “But bring an ambulance, like in Trishul, because you’ll need it.”

The former chief minister accused both the BJP and the Shinde-led Sena faction of plotting to erase the "Thackeray brand" from Maharashtra’s political narrative. He positioned himself as the true torchbearer of Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology, warning that the Marathi pride and Shiv Sena’s foundational values were under attack.

"Today, there is an organized attempt to uproot everything Balasaheb built – the voice of the Marathi manoos, the pride of Mumbai, and the identity of the Shiv Sena. But I am here, unafraid, to defend that legacy,” Uddhav declared to a packed audience of party workers.

Meanwhile, at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Eknath Shinde’s camp held its own grand rally, brimming with symbolism and counter-narratives. Hitting back at Uddhav’s cinematic dare, Shinde retorted sharply: “He says ‘kill me’ – but how do you kill someone who is already politically dead?”

Shinde accused Uddhav of abandoning Hindutva and compromising on Balasaheb’s principles by allying with the Congress and NCP under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). “If Balasaheb were alive today, he would have never forgiven this betrayal,” Shinde said.

Claiming to represent the true Shiv Sena, Shinde added, “We don’t provoke, but if provoked, we won’t back down. The people of Maharashtra can see who truly walks in Balasaheb’s footsteps.”

Both factions repeatedly invoked Balasaheb’s name to assert legitimacy, but the day’s events highlighted the deep and widening chasm within the party he founded. As Shiv Sena’s legacy continues to be fought over in public view, Thursday’s events made it clear: the battle for Balasaheb’s mantle is far from over.