Mumbai: Both Senas, allies show strength at SOBO rallies

Women workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) outside the collector’s office

Party workers of the two of Shiv Sena factions, along with their allies, marched towards the city collector's office on Monday to file nominations. Three candidates from both factions completed their paperwork for the Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central seats, with the latter featuring a Sena versus Sena fight between Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) candidate Anil Desai and Eknath Shinde faction's incumbent MP, Rahul Shewale.

Sena (UBT)'s incumbent MP Arvind Sawant also filed his nomination on Monday. However, it is still uncertain whom he will be fighting against for the seat, as the Shinde Sena and the BJP alliance (Mahayuti) have not yet declared a candidate from Mumbai South.

"We will declare all the remaining candidates before the last day to file nominations. There could be strategic reasons for not declaring them," said Sheetal Mhatre, Sena (Shinde faction) spokesperson. While Sena UBT's rally for the two candidates began from Colaba to the Old Customs House, Sena (Shinde) started the rally from the GPO.

Sena (Shinde) and allies party cadre await Shewale's arrival

"We are Hindus, too, but our religion and Bal Thackeray's teachings did not tell us to trample other religions to climb the ladder. That is what the BJP and its allies do, they spread hate," Padmavati Shinde, a Sena (UBT) party worker from Chembur for the last 20 years said when asked about the cadre's views on the alliance with the Congress and the left parties (the INDIA bloc).

On the other side, there was anger towards Uddhav Thackeray for "abandoning" his father's ideals. "For power, he went along with the Congress," said female party workers participating in the Shinde Sena rally for Shewale.

At the Sena (UBT) rally, apart from the Thackeray family and the two candidates, workers also carried posters condemning the arrest of opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal. Some slogans here were all too familiar, with chants of "gaddar" (traitor) and references to "50 khokas", insinuating that those with Shinde's Sena took money to break away from the Thackerays. There were also some party workers carrying an actual ‘mashal' (flaming torch) - the party symbol.

"During the last two elections, we were the ones who campaigned for that traitor (Shewale) and sent him to parliament. In return, he betrayed Uddhav-saheb," said Asha Sawant, a Sena (UBT) worker campaigning for Desai.

Shewale's rally

Shewale's rally featured pictures of Narendra Modi, Shinde, and Anand Dighe along with flags of the Republican Party India (Ramdas Athawle) and NCP (Ajit Pawar). This was also the case with Sena (UBT) where the party flag was seen alongside CPI (M), INC, AAP, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). There is also another reason why some undivided Sena workers chose to jump over to Shinde's side in the South Central constituency for which Shewale is the candidate.

Pushpa Pawar, a Sena (Shinde) worker from Mankhurd who has been a "Shiv Sainik" for the last 20 years, said that in the last 10 years, Shewale has improved civic facilities in the area. "Roads have become better. There is now a hospital and there are better schools, and some of the water issues we faced have been resolved," she said. When pointed out that these issues fall under the municipal corporation, she responded, "That is true, but someone has to get those works done. Shewale did that."

Archana Gaikar has been with the undivided Sena for 15 years and joined the Shinde faction after the split. "Most of us wouldn't have left Thackeray if it wasn't for Shewale. We left for him. If he had stayed, we would've stayed," she said.

Umesh Naik, secretary of Sena UBT-affiliated Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh, said Desai has had a grass-roots upbringing and has fought for rights of the 'Marathi manoos' since the 1970s. "He may look like a gentleman with corporate attire but he has fought on the ground since early years of Sena to secure employment for the sons of the soil," he said, adding that Desai's focus, if elected, would be on employment. "Unemployment is at an all-time high and people need jobs. He will also be taking issues of Dharavi residents into consideration with regards to redevelopment. If there is a government formed, Desai may also be considered for a minister's post," Naik said.

Kachendra Vaman-Patil, a resident of Girgaon who has been with the Sena for more than 20 years, said, "Not long before leaving us, Balasaheb asked us to look after his son as we looked after him. We remain with Uddhav-saheb for that reason."