In a fiery speech at the Legislative Council, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde alleged that former CM Uddhav Thackeray had apologized to PM Modi and expressed a desire to join hands with the BJP. Shinde also claimed that Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab had engaged in backdoor negotiations with the BJP. These statements have only added more heat to the already intense political battle in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has come out in defense of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who was arrested for labeling deputy chief minister a traitor. Thackeray stated that Kamra was only expressing his views and that calling a 'gaddar' a 'gaddar' is not an attack. He also demanded compensation for the damage caused at Kamra's show venue, which was ransacked by Shiv Sena workers.
Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray came to the defense of comedian Kunal Kamra and his recent remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Thackeray stated that there was nothing wrong in calling someone a 'gaddar' (traitor) if it is true. Additionally, Aditya Thackeray questioned the violence at the Mumbai studio where Kamra's show was shot and called for an end to such actions. The controversy has sparked a heated debate on the issue of freedom of speech and criticism towards political leaders.
Comedian Kunal Kamra's stand-up act at a show in Mumbai's Khar area has caused a stir as he took a dig at the state's political scenario, specifically targeting Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. Kamra's parody song and use of the term 'gaddar' (traitor) in his act sparked controversy and drew criticism from members of Shiv Sena. However, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has defended Kamra's right to express his opinion and pointed out that the attack on him was not carried out by Shiv Sena workers.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has accused the Thackeray-led faction of the party of aligning itself with groups that were behind the recent violence in Nagpur. He also alleged that the party was drifting toward an "anti-Hindu" stance and demanded strict action against those involved. While Nirupam pushed for immediate action, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged caution and stated that investigations were ongoing to establish any foreign links to the violence. The violence in Nagpur erupted on 17 March following rumors of a religious inscription being burned and left 92 people arrested so far.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale accuses Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting the Hindu community by not attending the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. The Minister suggests that Hindu voters must boycott these leaders for not participating in the important religious event, and criticizes their actions as hypocritical for seeking Hindu votes without showing support for Hindu traditions. He also highlights the successful turnout at the Mahakumbh and urges voters to send a message to these leaders through their votes.
In a joint press conference with NCP and Congress leaders, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray endorsed Rahul Gandhi's claims of irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly elections. Thackeray also criticized the BJP for taking a month to decide the chief minister despite their majority win and their ongoing disputes over the appointment of district guardian ministers. He even dared the BJP's Eknath Shinde to try and poach members of the Shiv Sena (UBT), which won 57 seats in the polls.
In the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray won 10 out of the 36 assembly seats in Mumbai, with 3 seats won by a margin of less than 2,000 votes. MNS, even though failing to win any seats and facing derecognition, caused divisions in Mahayuti's vote share in 10 seats, leading to Shiv Sena's victory. This was seen in seats like Worli, Mahim, Bandra East, and Vikhroli, where MNS candidates split the vote, resulting in the win for Shiv Sena candidates.
The Shiv Sena has stated its strong demand for Eknath Shinde to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a position he previously held. The party is pushing for a 'Bihar pattern' where Shinde, the leader of the largest coalition party, is given the CM post instead of the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis. The Sena believes that this move will not only be fair, but also prevent its rival (Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray) from gaining popularity and targeting the BJP.
Despite initial confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut retracts statement and claims the results are not acceptable. This comes as the alliance struggles to maintain their lead against the MahaYuti alliance. In response, BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil extends an invitation to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to rejoin the MahaYuti, stating their comfortable position in forming the next government. The decision for the next chief minister will be made by the top leadership of the BJP and MahaYuti.