Mumbai, Dec 23 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) launched a fierce critique against Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, disputing his assertion that the recent Maharashtra local body elections have decisively established the identity of the 'real' Shiv Sena.

In a pointed editorial featured in the party's official publication, 'Saamana', the Thackeray faction declared, “The deceivers proclaim, 'Our Shiv Sena is the true one!' Yet, the citizens of this state discern what is genuine and what is not. Those who attributed their victory to the feet of Modi and Shah do not deserve the 'Shiv Sena' emblem. It was these very individuals, Modi and Shah, who pilfered the bow and arrow and distributed it to eight traitors in Maharashtra. The manipulation of Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and local body elections has devolved into a matter of 'yours, mine, theirs'. The future landscape will be markedly different, and we have no doubt about that.”

The editorial further contended that Eknath Shinde has wrongly attributed accomplishments to his faction, stating that such claims are unfounded. The assertion of significant achievements in the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and local body elections is regarded as empty. “Originally, the title 'Shiv Sena' and the symbol of the bow and arrow were secured under pressure from Amit Shah. The bow and arrow carry a legacy that Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of Shiv Sena, planted in every household. These 'legacies' have been stolen while the discussion of the 'real Shiv Sena' continues,” the editorial noted.

Moreover, it pointed out that the dispute over the Shiv Sena's identity and its symbol remains unresolved in the Supreme Court, which has granted six months for the Election Commission to reach a decision. “While dates remain unannounced, following the defection of 40 MLAs to the opposing side, the legal proceedings are being pursued to determine the rightful symbol!” the editorial remarked.

The Thackeray faction emphasized that even with the electoral victories claimed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the legal questions surrounding the party's 'real' identity and official symbols persist. It added, “The Supreme Court has set a hearing for January 21, 2026, to resolve the symbol dispute between the factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. A similar hearing concerning the NCP symbol dispute is scheduled for January 22, 2026. As the year concludes, political parties are shifting their attention towards the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on January 15.” The editorial even raised concerns about the timing of the court hearings.

In a concluding remark, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena accused, “The outcomes of local body elections have been manipulated and traded. Integrity and transparency are nowhere to be found in these results. The ruling party has mastered the art of buying votes, and figures like Amit Shah facilitate their electoral wins by stealing the Shiv Sena and its bow and arrow. As Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pledges to enhance the state's image post-results, the opposition remains resolute. They characterize the current political climate as one rife with 'looting and deceit' and assert their confidence that the political landscape in Maharashtra will transform in due course,” stated the editorial.