Shiv Sena factions mark foundation day amid poaching rumors

The political tension stems from claims made by Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, who asserts that six members of the Thackeray faction have already shifted their allegiance to the ruling group led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. While these reports of mass defections remain unconfirmed by the lawmakers themselves, the speculation has dominated the atmosphere in Bandra and the area surrounding Matoshree.

This rivalry follows the 2022 fracture of the original party, a schism that triggered protracted legal battles and eventually saw the Election Commission grant the official 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Shinde faction. With the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) fighting to maintain its relevance, the foundation day serves as a high-stakes test of political endurance for both sides. The focus now shifts to whether the rumored alignment with the ruling alliance will materialize in the coming days.