CM Shinde launches battle to win over public perception

Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held a mega public rally at Paithan in Aurangabad district in an obvious political gambit to win over the public ahead of the more serious task of winning the forthcoming elections in Maharashtra. Notably, the first public meeting held by rebel Sena MLA and freshly minted minister Sandipan Bhumre in Paithan saw a turnout of less than 150 people, even as hoards gathered at road shows and rallies by ex-Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray (from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena). Industries Minister Uday Samant, whose entourage was attacked in Pune recently, had also announced plans to hold a public rally in the same district to correct the public perception created against his popularity.

“The Shinde faction is still to come into its own as a distinct political entity and has begun asserting its political presence. This began with the Shinde-led faction deciding to hold the Dussehra rally at central Mumbai’s Shivaji Park although the Thackeray-led Sena has traditionally held its rally there. This was followed by a showdown with Thackeray loyalists at Dadar on Saturday night, when Shinde group loyalist Sada Sarvankar allegedly fired a round from his licensed revolver at the Dadar police station,” a person familiar with the developments told First India, adding that Sarvankar was the common factor in both cases. As the local MLA, Sarvankar traditionally filed the application to the Mumbai civic corporation on behalf of the undivided Shiv Sena for the Dussehra rally. Now, he has done the same for the Shindeled group this year. Sarvankar was also the MLA to moot the idea of setting up a Sena Bhavan in Dadar near the party HQ of Thackeray’s group.

“The Shinde group was asserting its dominance in Mumbai city through the twin gambits, even as Sarvankar is probably gunning for the post of Mumbai president within the new formation. Despite having challenged Thackeray’s presidency and claimed the party symbol, the Shinde group is yet to even appoint its state head (president), the person added. Meanwhile, Shinde’s ally in the government, the Bharatiya Janata Party, is watching the two Sena factions battle it out to assess the CM’s ability to hold his own against the Thackerayled Sena in the forthcoming elections to 23 municipalities in the state including Mumbai, Thane and Pune. All parties are already holding booth-level meetings in preparation of the forthcoming civic elections.