The legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray is repeatedly being questioned and trampled by his son Uddhav Thackeray through his contentious actions. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Mahayuti Alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) faction leader Aditya Thackeray had vowed to BOYCOTT the oath taking ceremony during the special session of Maharashtra Assembly. While, the party took an ignominious U-turn, a few hours later, it further aggravated its woes by delivering a public betrayal to its erstwhile ‘Hindutva’ ideology.
For those unversed, Shiv Sena (UBT) is the splinter faction of the parent party – Shiv Sena that was built and nurtured by Hindutva Icon, Late Bala Saheb Thackeray. It once faced smear campaigns for “Islamophobia”. Now, ironically, the party which threw tantrums at the oath taking ceremony in the state assembly on 8th December, was conspicuously taking “oath of loyalty to the party” at — Pir Babar Sheikh Dargah in Hatis, Ratnagiri. Strikingly, the party whose GHQ and unflinching loyalty was to Matoshree, took “oath of loyalty to the party” at a communal site –an Islamic one.
From joining hands with Congress to taking oath at a Dargah, Uddhav Thackeray has successfully managed to scrap out the last vestige of saffron of Shiv Sena and give it a Islamic green touch.
The event came in the wake of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s disappointing performance in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections, where it could only win 20 seats with the Mahavikas Agadi alliance in total securing 46 seats. The loss of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Konkan, a traditional strong belt of unified Shiv Sena, had hurt the party the most.
Party insiders revealed that the choice of the dargah was symbolic, as it is seen as a representation of “communal harmony” in the region. It was said that swearing loyalty at sacred sites is rooted in Konkan’s cultural traditions, and the gesture was aimed at restoring unity and morale within the party.
The loss in the elections has exposed deep rifts within the party. Dissatisfied workers have accused senior leaders of inefficiency, with several key figures resigning from their posts. The internal turmoil has led to heated discussions and growing tensions among the cadre.
Vinayak Raut, a senior party leader and close confidant of Uddhav Thackeray, spearheaded the “loyalty oath initiative” to address discontent. Attendance was reportedly mandatory, with absentees viewed as disloyal or engaging in anti-party activities.
Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has brought a sense of dissatisfaction among the Maharashtra’s voters for aligning itself with the Congress party and for ditching the ideology of Hindutva which was considered sacred by the father of Uddhav Thackeray, late Bal Thackeray.