Maharashtra: Fadnavis storms into Thackeray den, as Ajit enters Shinde bastion

A poster of Ajit Pawar put up at the dahi handi at Tembhi Naka in Thane. Pic/Satej Shinde

This year, Dahi Handi celebrations saw revelry of the political kind, with both deputy chief ministers making an entry into the strongholds of other political parties. The ruling BJP dominated the celebrations at Jambori Maidan in Worli, the stronghold of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Hoardings with pictures of Devendra Fadnavis were seen splashed all over while at Shiv Sena's (Eknath Shinde-led) home pitch at Thane's Tembhi Naka, the Dahi Handi event saw NCP's Ajit Pawar's face smiling down from posters. Interestingly, during the MVA reign, Shinde had managed to keep NCP out of Thane.

Posters of Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders in the background at the Jambori Maidan Dahi Handi celebration at Worli on Thursday. Pic/Shadab Khan

This year the Dahi Handi celebrations saw the Ajit Pawar-led NCP make inroads into the stronghold of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde-led). The Pawar-led NCP has entered Shiv Sena's home pitch at Thane's Tembhi Naka, which could never have been possible if there were no alliances. A huge banner of Pawar was put up at Tembhi Naka during Dahi Handi on Thursday.

Fort Thane breached

The Tembhi Naka Dahi Handi is known as late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe's event. Last year posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were seen during the event at Tembhi Naka.

Also read: Mumbai: Fadnavis storms into Thackeray den, as Ajit enters Shinde bastionMumbai: Shinde Sena pulls out of Dahi Handi events at Worli

According to reports, the NCP was always a competitor for Shiv Sena in Thane. After the split in NCP, the party's Thane strong man, Jitendra Awhad, is with party founder and chief Sharad Pawar. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi's government, Shinde had kept NCP away from Thane city. But now that Ajit Pawar has joined the government, the NCP has made inroads into Thane.

Ajit Pawar's poster alongwith those of Devendra Fadnavis, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi at Tembhi Naka's Dahi Handi on Thursday. Pic/Satej Shinde

There was also a tough tussle between both the Shiv Senas in Thane. From the traditional Dahi Handi organized by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at Tembhi Naka like every year, at walking distance there was Dahi Handi organized by Uddhav Sena leader and Member of Parliament Rajan Vichare at Jambli Naka. Interestingly, both the places were as crowded with Govinda teams and citizens.

NCP leader Jitendra Awhad, who is close to NCP president Sharad Pawar, attended Vichare's Dahi Handi festival. NCP leaders of both factions were present at both Shiv Sena's dahi handi celebrations on the road. The spokesperson of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Sheetal Mhatre, did not respond to calls.

‘Message to workers'

"The Sarwajanik mandals in Mumbai Thane were earlier with Shiv Sena. However, after the MVA government came to the state, BJP started celebrating the festival in the places where Shiv Sena is strong. This helps connect the political party with office bearers and workers mandals," political observer Sanjay Patil said.

Participants at Jambori Maidan wearing a BJP leader's T-Shirts. Pic/Shadab Khan

"Festivals always have political mobilization. BJP does not do anything for no reason. Political mobilization happens from festivals. Political parties try to take advantage of it. Having a poster of Ajit Pawar along with BJP leaders at Tembhi Naka in Thane is a message for the workers and those who come there that we are all together. There are always disputes among the workers of the Mitra Party at the local level. This will be an attempt to send a message to them through this poster," Patil added.

BJP enters Worli

The ruling BJP dominated the celebrations at Jambori Maidan in Worli, the stronghold of the Shiv Sena (UBT). At Jambori Maidan in Worli, the BJP had taken control of the festival with songs having lyrics like, "Worlichya lokanchi shaan, bhajapachi handi (The pride of the people of Worli is BJP's dahi handi)."

Hoardings with pictures of Fadnavis were put up, and some participants were seen wearing T-shirts with CM Shinde's name. There were no pictures of him anywhere. A hoarding with Aaditya Thackeray's picture wishing people on the occasion was put up right outside the maidan where BJP celebrations dominated.

"Worli is not the monopoly of any single political party. We celebrated the festival of dahi handi across Mumbai. Similarly, it was celebrated in Worli too. We celebrate every Hindu festival with enthusiasm. Our presence is all over India," BJP leader Pawan Tripathi said.

Highest human tower

Thane also witnesses the highest human pyramid at Vartak Nagar during the festival. The Jai Jawan Mandal erected a human tower of nine layers on Thursday afternoon at Vartak Nagar.

"There was a restriction on celebrating festivals for two years due to the pandemic. But after our government came, this restriction was lifted. Now festivals are being celebrated with enthusiasm," said Eknath Shinde.