Mumbai’s Big Dussehra Showdown: Eknath Shinde Vs Uddhav Thackery Again To Claim Balasaheb’s Legacy

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) are set for their mega annual Dussehra rallies in Mumbai on Saturday. This year, Shinde’s faction will hold its rally at Azad Maidan, while Thackeray will lead the rally at Shivaji Park.

As they did last year, both factions have released video trailers for their rallies, asserting their claim to be the “real Shiv Sena” and continuing the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

The Dussehra rally tradition was started by Balasaheb Thackeray, who used these events to deliver important messages. This year’s rallies are particularly significant as they come ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, which will take place before the end of the year.

With elections approaching, both factions aim to gather as many supporters as possible for their rallies.

On social media platform X, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena party shared a 40-second animated video featuring caricatures of both Shinde and Thackeray.

“Dussehra gathering of Shiv Sena 2024. Marathi is our breath. Hinduism is our life. Let’s go to Azad Maidan… Come ringing, come roaring,” wrote the Shinde-led party in their post.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) also shared videos on X inviting people to their Dussehra rally.

In one of their posts, they wrote, “Where there is Thackeray, there is Shiv Sena. Where there is Shivtirtha, there should be a Dussehra gathering!”