Eknath Shinde: Shiv Sena (UBT) LS poll win like a 'swelling', it will go away soon

event organised on the occasion of the 58th Foundation Day of the Shiv Sena. Pic/ Atul Kamble

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday characterised the victory of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the state in the recent Lok Sabha polls as transient and likened it to a "swelling that will go away in due course," reported PTI. He further added, "It comes soon and goes away quickly as well. In the coming elections, it will go away."

Speaking at the event organised on the occasion of the 58th Foundation Day of the Shiv Sena, Shinde said his rival Shiv Sena (UBT) won Lok Sabha seats because of the Congress' vote bank, but their electoral success was ephemeral.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won nine Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while the Shinde-faction emerged victorious in seven constituencies.

Pointing out the Shiv Sena's victory in its bastions like Kalyan, Thane and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar constituencies, Shinde said they show the party's formidable presence and support base in the state.

Asserting his enduring relevance in Maharashtra politics, Shinde said he will win more elections, referring to the assembly polls which are due in October.

"Shinde's relevance has not ended... I will win more elections in the coming days as well," declared the CM, reported PTI.

Shinde's party fought its first Lok Sabha polls post the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena. He vowed to uphold voters' trust, reported PTI. "I will protect voters trust shown in the Lok Sabha elections," he said.

Shinde said Uddhav Thackeray lacked the moral authority to invoke the legacy of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.
He cited the Lok Sabha poll results as evidence of the Shiv Sena's continuing influence in Maharashtra.

Shinde noted his faction retained 14.50 per cent of the original 19 per cent vote share of the undivided Shiv Sena, while the remaining votes went to Thackeray's camp.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday asserted that he will never go with those who tried to "finish off" his party, putting paid to speculation about a possible reconciliation with the BJP post the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Addressing an event organised by Uddhav Thackeray's faction in Mumbai on the 58th Foundation Day of the Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray said that the Narendra Modi government, which took office on June 9, will collapse and it will replaced by an INDIA bloc-led dispensation.