BJP’s Hindutva regressive, our Hindutva reformist, says Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday (May 3) lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stating that the party's Hindutva is ‘gaumutradhari’ (regressive), while his party's Hindutva is ‘reformist’.

Uddhav Thackeray's comment comes after union home minister Amit Shah attacked the Shiv Sena (UBT) over its Hindutva ideology.

“BJP's Hindutva is gaumutradhari. Our Hindutva is reformist…When the INDIA alliance comes to power, I will ensure the lost glory of Maharashtra is reclaimed,” Thackeray said during an election rally in Kankavali in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg district.

Thackeray also accused the Centre of looting Maharashtra.

On Friday (May 3), Amit Shah slammed Thackeray, questioning if he can mention freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue, V D Savarkar in his speeches.

“What are you as Shiv Sena chief if you are ashamed of taking Savarkar's name. You are running a fake Shiv Sena. The real Shiv Sena is with Eknath Shinde,” Shah said.

Shah also hit out at Uddhav Thackerayover Balashaheb Thackeray's legacy.

“You do not get Balasaheb's (Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray) legacy this way. You may be his son, but his legacy is with Narayan Rane, Eknath Shinde and Raj Thackeray. You have abandoned his legacy," he said.

It is worth mentioning, in 2019 Lok Sabha election, BJP won 23 seats, while its ally Shiv Sena won 18 seats.

The NCP got four seats, and the Congress got only one seat. Despite BJP gettinghigher number of seats, the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCPcoalition ofthe ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ formed the government in Maharashtra.

But in 2022, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction broke away from the party and rebelled against Thackeray's leadership.

Shinde eventually formed the government with the support of the BJP. Subsequently, the Election Commission allotted the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and its bow and arrow symbol to the Eknath Shinde camp.

(With inputs from agencies)