For us, Uddhav Thackeray's Sena will remain real Shiv Sena: NCP

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and top leaders of the party have been backing the Thackeray-led faction since the split in Shiv Sena.

TN National Desk

Updated Oct 3, 2022, 21:11 IST

NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase

Photo : ANI

Mumbai: Amid a high-octane battle between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray over who holds control over real Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday extended its support to the Thackeray-led faction.

The Sharad Pawar-led party is of the view that the real Shiv Sena carries the ideals of the party founder late Bal Thackeray, which is Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena, said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

In a video statement, he said, "Two Dussehra rallies will be held this year. One is of tradition, loyalty, self-respect and ideals of Balasaheb (Thackeray) which means the one led by Uddhav Thackeray."

"Even though the decision on which is the real Shiv Sena is pending with the Election Commission, the real Shiv Sena is the one that has the ideals of Balasaheb which means it is the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena," he added.

In a setback for Thackeray, the Supreme Court last week allowed the EC to go ahead with hearing the Eknath Shinde group's plea seeking recognition as the 'real' Shiv Sena and allocation of the party's bow-and-arrow poll symbol to it.

The Thackeray-led faction is scheduled to hold a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, while the group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has booked the MMRDA grounds at the Bandra Kurla Complex for the October 5 congregation.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and top leaders of the party have been backing the Thackeray-led faction since the split in Shiv Sena.

The Thackeray-led Sena is one of the three members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The MVA government collapsed in June this year following the rebellion by 39 MLAs of Shiv Sena led by Shinde.

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