Spiritual leaders from Karnataka's Belagavi join Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

The induction ceremony took place at Anand Ashram in Thane, where 12 prominent spiritual leaders from Chikkodi, under the guidance of Param Pujya Purushottam Mali Maharaj of Datt Gagangiri Dhyan Mandir, formally joined the party by hoisting the saffron flag in the presence of Shinde.

Mumbai: In a significant development in Maharashtra politics, several spiritual leaders from the Belagavi district of neighbouring Karnataka joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

The spiritual leaders from the neighbouring state expressed faith in the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Shinde, who has been actively promoting the ideology of Hindutva.

The induction ceremony took place at Anand Ashram in Thane on Sunday evening, where 12 prominent spiritual leaders from Chikkodi, under the guidance of Param Pujya Purushottam Mali Maharaj of Datt Gagangiri Dhyan Mandir, formally joined the party by hoisting the saffron flag in the presence of Shinde.

The spiritual leaders who joined include - Sagar Bagdi Maharaj, Nutan Dhanawade Maharaj, Balkrishna Kamble Maharaj, Suvel Shette Maharaj, Mayur Gurav Maharaj, Sai Patil Maharaj, Aniket Varke Maharaj, Sushma Kharat Maharaj, Deepa Fadnavis Maharaj, Arvind Shiralkar Maharaj, Dada Maharaj, and Ajay Gharade Maharaj.

“Over the past three years, public support for Shiv Sena has been growing. We are moving forward with a vision of Hindutva and development,” said Shinde, who is one the pillars of the BJP-led Maha Yuti-NDA government.

Shinde criticised the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government, stating, “Maharashtra is a land of saints, yet during their rule, the nation witnessed the tragic murder of two saints.”

“Shiv Sena stands firmly behind saints and spiritual leaders. Through spirituality, these saints are carrying forward the cause of Hindutva. In fact, religious authority is above political authority,” he said.

Shinde also remarked that while late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray envisioned promoting Marathi in Maharashtra and Hindi across the country, some today are treating Hindutva as a matter of convenience. “The people have given a fitting reply to those who betrayed Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma,” Shinde added.

The Deputy CM concluded by saying that the ideologies of saints and Shiv Sena are aligned, and just as in Maharashtra, the party will now work to promote the message of Hindutva across Karnataka and the rest of the country. Shiv Sena, he assured, will always stand in support of the saints.