The city of Mumbai is no stranger to poster war politics, but this time an ugly Sena versus Sena dispute has broken out and has been recorded in every nook and corner of the city’s prominent places. The posters were displayed on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the Sena’s foundation, triggering an-all out poster war in order to claim the Sena’s legacy and leadership.
Although both parties have a different title and symbol now, their flags still bear a common saffron colour. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde organised a rally in Goregaon, while the Thackeray camp held its own gathering in Sion. While Shinde’s Shiv Sena is trying position itself as the forbears of Bal Thackeray’s legacy and ideology, the Thackeray camp has been making an emotive pitch by playing on family and loyalty. The central theme of Thackeray’s Sena is to embolden the tag ‘gaddar’ for the Shinde camp. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said, “We have mashal. Our committed sainiks (party workers) know its power.” To counter Uddhav Thackeray’s charge of betrayal, Shinde camp has been hammering on Bal Thackeray’s strong-held ideology. “We follow the footsteps of Bal Thackeray. We are his sainiks.” It has been a year since the Shiv Sena split into two parties. Uddhav Thackeray is left with 16 MLAs and seven MPs and Eknath Shinde has 40 MLAs and 13 MPs on his side.
