Mumbai: Loyalties first, family second for many in Shiv Sena

Jaidev Thackeray at Shinde’s Dussehra rally. Pic/Sameer Markande

When Bal Thackeray's son Jaidev addressed the gathering at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's rally at BKC on Dussehra, it brought to the fore the differing loyalties in the family of the Shiv Sena founder, particularly after the split in the party. Like Jaidev, there are many Shiv Sena leaders whose families are divided over their allegiance to the Shinde and Uddhav faction.

While Jaidev shared the dais with Shinde at BKC, his son Jaydeep was at Shivaji Park, the venue of Uddhav Thackeray's Dussehra address. "This is the first time I attended a Dussehra rally. I used to watch the rally on TV but never attended. I was also there at the oath ceremony of Uddhav Kaka. In the current situation I need to stay with my family," said Jaydeep.

Jaydeep Thackeray, Jaidev's son

Declaring his intentions, he said, "Yes, I'm willing to join politics. If I get the opportunity I will work for Shiv Sena [Thackeray faction]. My mother wants me to make a career in politics. I am an artist like my grandfather. If Kaka [Uddhav] entrusts me with any responsibility, I will work for the party's growth."

Also Read: Maharashtra: What the Shiv Sena freeze means for the two camps

Senior Sena leader and labour union leader Shrikant Sarmalkar and his daughter Nikki Shastri Sarmalkar are with the Uddhav group. "I don't have any posts in the party but I'm with Thackeray." Her husband Hari Shastri is the secretary of the Thackeray-led Bhartiya Kamgar Sena.

"Shiv Sena is family and we are members of the Shiv Sena family. No one can imagine Shiv Sena without Thackeray. Nobody can separate Thackeray from Shiv Sena. So there is no question of us leaving Thackeray," she said, adding that her father is no longer active in politics due to his health conditions.

Pachora MLA Kishor Patil is with Shinde, Sharmalkar's nephew Kunal is with the rebels, Patil's cousin Vaishali Suryawanshi is with Thackeray and Shrikant Sharmalkar is with the Uddhav camp

But his nephew Kunal Sharmalkar is a vibhag pramukh of the Shinde faction. "I worked in the Shiv Sena with utmost sincerity. But after the party came into power, the leaders forgot karyakartas like us. They even forgot the common people. That's why I took this decision. I joined Shinde as I want to work for the common people," he said. A similar story has unfolded in the Jalgaon district where Pachora MLA Kishor Patil is with Shinde, while his cousin Vaishali Suryawanshi, is with Thackeray.

"My father Tatyasaheb Patil, who died in 2019, was a two-term MLA of Shiv Sena from Pachora. Although I used to campaign for my father and brother, I never wanted to enter politics. But now the situation has become different. I met with Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai after the split. Also, when former minister Aaditya Thackeray visited Pachora I was with him. I'm with the Thackerays," said Vaishali.

This is not the first time in Maharashtra that there have been splits in the family due to political reasons. Atul Sarpotdar was with Raj Thackeray when the latter founded the MNS. Atul's father Madhukar Sarpotdar was with the Shiv Sena when he died in 2010. While Atul died in 2013, his son Jay is with the Thackerays.