Maharashtra political crisis: Aaditya Thackeray likely to hold a big rally in Goregaon on June 29

Attempting to recover from the blow dealt by its top leaders, the Shiv Sena has begun reaching out to its Sainiks, the party's grassroots workers. With a floor test unlikely to happen anytime soon, its young face Aaditya Thackeray has been holding marathon meetings with the cadre. Sources said the overwhelming response to his addresses has prompted Aaditya to plan a big rally on Wednesday.

Since Thane leader Eknath Shinde broke away with nearly 40 MLAs and stayed put in Guwahati in an unprecedented rebellion in the Shiv Sena, Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray has addressed Sainiks in many packed halls. And the results are showing.

Sena workers at Birla Matoshree, Marine Lines, during a meeting with Aaditya Thackeray, on June 26. Pic/Ashish Raje

"Before the rebellion, 20-30 Sainiks used to visit our shakha daily, but now 100-120 Sainiks show up, which clearly shows that party workers are behind Uddhav ji. The aggressive way in which Aaditya Thackeray is addressing the Sainiks is getting huge support from the party cadre," said a shakha pramukh from the western suburbs.

On June 25, Aaditya spoke to Sena workers at the Lala Lajpatrai Auditorium in Worli, his own constituency. The same day, he addressed a gathering at Birla Matoshree hall near Bombay Hospital where many senior Sena leaders also addressed the crowd.

On Sunday, June 26, a similar meeting happened at Dahisar with Sainiks from north Mumbai in the presence of party MP Sanjay Raut and other leaders. On Monday, Aaditya went to Karjat for a meeting of party workers that drew a large number of youngsters and Sainiks.

These meetings are also an indirect message to the rebels that they might be in the Shinde camp but Sainiks are with the Sena and Uddhav Thackeray, said a party worker.

Sena MLA Ravindra Waikar said, "The regular meetings at Sena shakhas are happening daily and the good part is that Sainiks are participating in large numbers. On Wednesday, a meeting has been called at Nesco in Goregaon where hundreds of Sainiks will participate. The response Aaditya saheb is getting for his meetings is overwhelming and this proves that the Sainiks are with Uddhav ji and our party."

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Shakha pramukh from Dindoshi, Sandeep Gadhave, told mid-day, "The number of party workers coming to our shakhas has increased manifold and this is because the real Shiv Sainiks are with Uddhav saheb. Meetings are taking place on a daily basis and we are in constant touch with our seniors and leaders."

Yuva Sena Core Committee member Pravin Patkar said, "The way in which Aaditya ji is addressing marathon meetings of Sainiks and the tremendous response the meetings are witnessing proves that people are with Uddhav ji. The speeches delivered by Aaditya ji is pumping energy into our muscles and I am confident that Aaditya ji's meetings must be giving sleepless nights to the rebels."