Shinde Sena Targets Uddhav Thackeray’s Party for Backing Candidate Facing Maratha Backlash – News18

In an intensifying political battle between the two Shiv Sena factions, Arun Sawant, a senior leader from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, launched a blistering attack on rival Uddhav Thackeray’s party over their decision to field Pravina Morajkar, a former corporator from Kurla, as a candidate for the upcoming elections.

Morajkar, a well-known leader in her constituency, has been at the centre of controversy, particularly due to allegations raised by Maratha organisation Sambhaji Brigade. The group claims that Morajkar misused her position during her time as a corporator to file false cases against members of the Maratha community. According to the Sambhaji Brigade, Morajkar is responsible for registering over 11 atrocity cases against Maratha leaders and citizens, a fact that has led the group to formally protest against her potential candidacy under Thackeray’s Shiv Sena banner.

HYPOCRISY AT ITS FINEST: ARUN SAWANT

“These are blatant double standards by Uddhav Thackeray’s party,” Sawant said during a press briefing. “On the one hand, the party is actively seeking to win over Maratha voters, positioning itself as a champion of the community’s interests. But on the other hand, they are promoting someone like Pravina Morajkar, who has a track record of allegedly working against the very community they claim to support.”

Sawant’s comments add fuel to an already heated rivalry between the Shinde and Thackeray factions of the Shiv Sena. Since the split in the party, the two sides have been at odds over leadership, political strategies, and now, candidate selection. For Sawant, this situation encapsulates the deeper problems with Thackeray’s leadership and approach to election planning.

“How can you even consider giving a ticket to someone accused of such actions,” Sawant asked. “This is hypocrisy at its finest. The people of Maharashtra, especially the Maratha community, will not forget these contradictions. They are watching, and they will make their voices heard when it’s time to vote.”

ALLEGATIONS FALSE: PRAVINA MORAJKAR

Morajkar, who remains a frontrunner for the Kurla constituency despite the controversy, is now facing an uphill battle. The backlash from the Sambhaji Brigade and other Maratha groups has sparked a wider debate over her candidacy, potentially affecting Thackeray’s standing among the community in the region.

Speaking to News18, Morajkar said, “The allegations by Shinde Sena leaders and Maratha brigade leaders are totally false. They should show the official complaint or FIR filed by me. I am loyal worker of Thackeray. I have worked as a municipal corporator under his guidance. I feel the Shinde Sena is afraid of my work in Kurla constituency, so they are trying to malign my image by levelling such allegations as I come from a backward caste.

Sawant emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership. “Ultimately, the people of Maharashtra will decide whether Thackeray’s party can continue with these double standards. Voters will see through these contradictions and deliver their judgment at the polls,” he said.

As the elections draw closer, this conflict between the two Shiv Sena factions is likely to escalate, with candidates like Pravina Morajkar caught in the crossfire.