'Won't betray Balasaheb's ideology': Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde extends Guru Purnima wishes amid upheaval in Shiv Sena

​Shinde, who led the revolt in Shiv Sena, had taken oath as Chief Minister on June 30. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took an oath as Deputy Chief Minister. The Shiv Sena had seen a revolt last month which led to the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of the tri-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government alongside the Congress and NCP.
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and ​Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Photo : ANI
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today made a reference to Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray as he extended Guru Purnima greetings via social media. The remarks come amid a political power tussle within the Shiv Sena ranks that has seen around 40 MLAs break away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
"Won't betray Balasaheb's ideology. That fire will not be extinguished...there is no thought without Hindutva. Greetings on the occasion of Guru Poornima," he tweeted on Wednesday (roughly translated from Marathi). Guru Purnima is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists to honour one's gurus or teachers who guide them through their lives towards the path of enlightenment.
Shinde, who led the revolt in Shiv Sena, had taken oath as Chief Minister on June 30. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took an oath as Deputy Chief Minister. The Shiv Sena had seen a revolt last month which led to the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of the tri-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government alongside the Congress and NCP.
While the duo remain the only members of the Cabinet at present, a much awaited expansion may take place after the July 18 presidential polls. Shinde and Fadnavis last week visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda. Deliberations on cabinet expansion in Maharashtra were believed to have taken place with the BJP's top brass during the visit.
The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has filed a disqualification petition against 16 rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. In the Maharashtra assembly, Shinde had claimed to be the "original" Shiv Sena by virtue of having support of more than two-third legislators of the party's legislative wing.
The party is also staring at a split in the Parliamentary party with at least 14 Lok Sabha members weighing the option of joining the Shinde-led faction. Shinde is trying to wrest control of civic bodies and municipal corporations held by Shiv Sena and also seeking a upper hand over the organisation.
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