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On Bal Thackeray's birth anniversary, Uddhav and Shinde trudge their own pathsAfter the split in the regional saffron party in 2022, Maharashtra politics has changed its course.
Mrityunjay Bose
Last Updated IST
<div class="paragraphs"><p>Uddhav Thackeray (left) and Eknath Shine.&nbsp;</p></div>

Uddhav Thackeray (left) and Eknath Shine. 

Credit: PTI Photos.

Mumbai: Coinciding with the 99th birth anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray on Thursday (January 23), Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde claimed the legacy of the Shiv Sena founder even as Maharashtra braces up for the mega civic polls. 

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Balasaheb, who was born January 23, 1926, had founded the Shiv Sena on June 19, 1966. He breathed his last on November 17, 2012.

However, after the split in the regional saffron party in 2022, the Maharashtra politics has changed its course. 

Uddhav, who now heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) after Shinde claimed the Shiv Sena, slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

“The Marathi manoos have taught Aurangzeb a lesson…then who is Amit Shah,” said Uddhav, adding that for the two-and-a-half years PM Modi and Shah ran an illegal government in Maharashtra. 

“That I have left Hindutva is a false narrative (spread by BJP),” he said, adding that the Lok Sabha results have come as a jolt to Modi. 

However Shinde hit back at Uddhav. “We follow the ideals of late Balasaheb Thackeray and late Anand Dighe,” said Shinde addressing a rally at the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

“I was the CM…CM means common man…now (BJP’s) Devendra Fadnavis is the CM…I am the Deputy CM…DCM means dedicated to the common man,” said Shinde, who is now the chief leader of the Shiv Sena.