Rival Shiv Sena factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray will hold separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai on Saturday, aiming to show their strength and set the tone for the Maharashtra assembly polls.
While the Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold its rally at the historic Shivaji Park in Dadar, Shinde will address his faction at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.
Around 2 lakh people are expected to attend the rally at Azad Maidan to hear the chief minister, according to a party leader. Moreover, nearly 3,000 private buses have been booked by Shinde-led Sena to ferry its workers to the venue.
At the rally, Thackeray, who blames the BJP for splitting his party, is also expected to launch attacks on its former ally.
Sena vs Sena: Show of strength at Dussehra rallies today
Dussehra rallies have been a key tradition for the Shiv Sena since the 1960s, when party founder Bal Thackeray began addressing supporters from Shivaji Park.
Since the Shiv Sena's split in June 2022, the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray has maintained the tradition of holding rallies at Shivaji Park.
The Shinde-led Sena first held its rally at the MMRDA ground in Bandra Kurla Complex. Since the last two years, the Shinde group has been holding rallies at Azad Maidan.
The rallies are anticipated to energise supporters of both factions ahead of next month's state elections. The term of the current assembly ends on November 26.
Ahead of the rallies, both sides released teasers. The Shinde-led faction's teaser showed a tiger, with Sena written on it, being betrayed by tying it to the Congress with a rope. Animation used in the teaser goes on to show CM Shinde emerging and cutting the rope with an arrow.
In its teaser, the Shiv Sena (UBT) talks about saving Maharashtra’s pride and burying traitors, a reference to MLAs who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray.
(With PTI inputs)
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