Raj Thackeray makes big claim on Shiv Sena symbol: ‘Told Amit Shah not to…’

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday claimed that he had told Union Home Minister Amit Shah ‘not to touch’ Shiv Sena party and symbol.

Thackeray made the claim while addressing party functionaries and workers in Mumbai.

Also Read: BJP extols Uddhav Thackeray amid rift reports with Shinde's Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar's NCP: ‘Health was not good, still…’

This marks the first instance where Thackeray has openly criticized the saffron party since the Eknath Shinde faction was declared the authentic Shiv Sena, receiving the bow and arrow symbol from the Election Commission.

'The people of Maharashtra are emotional about Balasaheb Thackeray. I had told BJP leaders, Amit Shah not to touch the party (undivided Shiv Sena) and party symbol. It is not even of Uddhav Thackeray. But the BJP underestimated Balasaheb Thackeray's name. This symbol (Bow and arrow) and the name (Shiv Sena) were self-earned by Balasaheb Thackeray," Mumbai Tak reported quoting the MNS chief.

Also Read: After ‘Maha’ shock in Lok Sabha polls, 6 MLAs from Eknath Shinde group in touch with Uddhav Thackeray: Report

Thackeray targets Thackeray

Referring to the Lok Sabha election results in Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray, stating that the votes cast in favour of Uddhav Thackeray (his party) are not of the Marathi people.

"People are angry about Uddhav Thackeray. The voting done for Uddhav Thackeray was anti-Modi. The people are waiting for MNS," Thackeray claimed.

Thackeray also said that so far, there is no agreement between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi members, and he is not going to go to either of them to ask for seats (for assembly elections).

“Be prepared to contest elections on 200 to 225 seats (in assembly),” Raj Thackeray told party leaders and workers.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Raj Thackeray did not join the NDA; however, he announced unconditional support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also attended and addressed the crowd at Modi's rally in Mumbai ahead of the 5th phase of Lok Sabha.

Also Read: Mumbai, Maharashtra Election Results 2024: Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena sweeps Mumbai; Piyush Goyal wins North

In March, referring to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP, Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had said that he returned to power after breaking two parties.

In June 2022, the Shiv Sena was split after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rebelled.

In February 2023, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that the Shinde faction would retain the bow and arrow symbol.