Don't play with sentiments of Shiv Sainiks: Shiv Sena deputy leader to Eknath Shinde faction

Shiv Sena's newly-appointed deputy leader Anita Birje said Shiv Sainiks will rise to the occasion if rival leaders try to play with their sentiments.
Anita Birje

File picture: Anita Birje | Pic courtesy: Facebook

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • On Sunday, Anita Birje was appointed as the deputy leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction
  • Shiv Sena, meanwhile, appointed Kedar Dighe as the party's Thane district unit chief
  • "We will follow the path set by late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, with 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics," said Anita Birje
Thane: Shiv Sena's newly-appointed deputy leader Anita Birje on Monday warned leaders belonging to the rival Eknath Shinde group not to play with the sentiments of Shiv Sainiks.
She spoke to the media after paying tribute to Anand Dighe, the late Shiv Sena stalwart, at Anand Ashram in Maharashtra's Thane, where hundreds of Shiv Sainiks had assembled to show support.
Notably, Anita Birje was a close aide to Anand Dighe and served as Shiv Sena's women's wing. On Sunday, she was appointed as the deputy leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. Meanwhile, the party appointed Kedar Dighe, Anand Dighe's nephew, as its Thane district unit chief.
After the rebellion in the party, Shiv Sainiks were confused, but after the announcements about the newly-appointed leaders, they have come out in the open determined to work for residents of the district and the state, said Birje.
"We will follow the path set by late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, with 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics," she said.
The Shiv Sena leader said rival leaders should not play with the sentiments of Shiv Sainiks, who will stand up if forced to do so. Also present were Thane MP Rajan Vichare and Kedar Dighe.
Vichare, while speaking to the media, said that rebels should not forget the positions they enjoyed within the party and should carry out their tasks without harassing others.
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