For the first time since the party split, the foundation day of Shiv Sena will be celebrated on Monday. There will be separate celebrations by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray-led factions.
The fete comes as both factions engage in a verbal duel and political warfare over claiming the mantle of the 'true inheritor' of party founder late Bal Thackeray's legacy ahead of the next year's Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections.
While Shinde-led Shiv Sena will hold its event at the NESCO ground in Goregaon in northwest Mumbai, the Shiv Sena (UBT) will celebrate the foundation day at Shanmukhanand Hall at Sion in central Mumbai.
According to Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of chief minister Eknath Shinde, party workers from across the state will gather for the event.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) too is planning a grand foundation day celebration with Uddhav Thackeray set to speak at a party conclave in Worli in south-central Mumbai, the Assembly seat of his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray, reported Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana.'
Aaditya and senior Sena leader Subhash Desai will inaugurate the conclave. A film on the work done by Uddhav Thackeray during his tenure as chief minister will also be screened. Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve and Sanjay Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, will also address party workers at the conclave.
The Shiv Sena split in June last year after Shinde and 39 other party MLAs rebelled against then Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government of the Sena, NCP and Congress. Shinde then became chief minister with the BJP's support and the Election Commission of India subsequently granted his faction the original party name and 'bow and arrow' symbol while the Thackeray group was named Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
MLC Manisha Kayande jumps ship
In a setback for the Uddhav faction, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Manisha Kayande joined the Shinde faction on Sunday. She alleged that the Uddhav Thackeray faction was "inaccessible to receive feedback on the party affairs." She also claimed money is sought from women in the Thackeray faction.
Kayande is the second leader in the last few days to quit from Shiv Sena (UBT). A day earlier, senior leader Shishir Shinde resigned from the party. "The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is the original Sena which belongs to Balasaheb Thackeray," Kayande said after joining the Shiv Sena in Thane.
She added that she waited a year to see if the Thackeray-led faction would introspect over why party workers were leaving Shiv Sena (UBT). Kayande was made secretary of Shiv Sena and also its spokesperson. "The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is the original Sena which belongs to Balasaheb Thackeray," she said.
"People who talk every morning criticising others, push the agenda of Congress and NCP and speak against Hindu gods and goddesses cannot be the face of Shiv Sena," she took a swipe at the Uddhav faction. The event was attended by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde.