Emphasising the need to get similar success in the local body polls as his party's stellar performance in the November assembly elections, deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that people of Maharashtra have given their verdict on which is the real Shiv Sena. Addressing a rally to mark the 99th birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Shinde said the Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 97 seats and won only 20 seats.
"We contested 80 seats and won 60 seats. This victory is spectacular. Now tell me whose Shiv Sena is real. People have given their verdict on which Shiv Sena is the real one," Shinde said. "We are the inheritors of Balasaheb's legacy. People have put their seal on it," Shinde asserted. "Self-respect is more important than any position. There will be no compromise on Shiv Sena's ideals and self-respect. The ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray will not be betrayed," added Shinde, who is the party's chief leader.
The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Shinde rebelled against then CM Uddhav Thackeray and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Shinde's faction got the 'Shiv Sena' name and 'bow and arrow' symbol, while the Thackeray faction was christened Shiv Sena (UBT) with 'mashaal' (flaming torch) as its symbol.
