Mumbai: Seventy-nine-year-old Vaman Chavan, who joined the Shiv Sena in 1966, the 12 months it got here into being, is a disgruntled man. The current choice by the Election Fee (EC) to allot the social gathering title and ballot image to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction has angered many sainiks like Chavan, turning shakhas of each side into hotbeds of exercise, each making an attempt to consolidate their place.
For an old-timer like Chavan, who began with shakha quantity 72 in Bhoiwada, it’s the Uddav Thackeray faction that’s the true Sena. “Shiv Sena’s roots run deep. They’ll’t be shaken from the floor. Although they took the title and image, Uddhav Thackeray shall be recognised as the true Sena as a result of the Marathi inhabitants has an emotional join with the household,” he stated.
“Right this moment, half of all these claiming to be the true Sena weren’t even born when the social gathering was born…(however) we’ll proceed to assist Shiv Sena (UBT) develop,” he added.
Shakhas or native places of work are present in each ward of Mumbai and are fortress-like buildings that play an vital function within the social gathering’s day-to-day functioning. They’re the spine of the social gathering.
Although most of those shakha employees haven’t moved on to the Shinde camp, they’re struggling to maintain the actions going, primarily for need of funds.
A younger employee in one of many shakhas of Sion, who didn’t want to be named, advised ThePrint, “Younger persons are nonetheless with Uddhav Thackeray however we should not have sufficient cash whereas they (Shinde faction) try to draw individuals by providing varied posts.”
Santosh Telwane, a pramukh of Shinde’s Sena from Prabhadevi’s shakha quantity 194, counters him, saying they haven’t any posts to supply. “Many individuals are approaching us from the backdoor, however now we have no vacant posts to supply. Staff are becoming a member of us however we will’t soak up functionaries. So we’re going forward with what now we have,” he stated.
Whereas senior Sena (UBT) leaders acknowledge that fund circulate was an issue, they’re assured of successful massive within the coming BMC elections even because the Shinde group stated they might all the time make house for extra individuals.
Additionally learn: ‘Deshdrohi, chor mandal’: Breach of privilege notices in opposition to Maharashtra CM Shinde, Sanjay Raut
What’s in a reputation
Ulhas Panchal sits at shakha quantity 200 in Hindmata close to Dadar. Right here, he addresses the problems of individuals in his space and assures them of redress. He says he’s a Shiv Sainik since 1975.
“For us, hardcore sainiks, Thackeray is our signal, image, title, all the things. Our Shiv Sena is wherever the Thackeray title is. Allow them to take away all the things else, however we’re with Thackeray,” he stated.
For the old-timers ThePrint spoke to, it’s the grass root sainik who has toiled to unfold the message of the social gathering throughout town. “As a substitute of worrying in regards to the title and social gathering image being taken away, it’s time for us to talk up via our work,” stated Chavan.
Likewise, Rajendra Chandorkar works at shakha 173 in Prateeksha Nagar and has helped sainiks in Brihanmumbai Electrical Provide & Transport Endeavor (BEST) over time with a number of points, similar to salaries, advantages, and pension.
“Individuals of Maharashtra are seeing all this. Shiv Sainiks are watching this. In reality, the extra they attempt to preserve us down, the stronger we emerge. True sainiks shall be with Thackerays solely,” he stated.
Sainiks in Thackeray’s help are assured that with the shakha power, they are going to have the ability to win the approaching Brihanmumbai Municipal Company elections, scheduled to be held someday this 12 months.
“We will certainly win the elections. What occurred with Uddhavji isn’t proper. Nothing will occur. And Aaditya Thackeray has additionally constructed a younger Sena and no person can take us away,” stated Ramdas Parkar, who claims his household has identified the Thackerays from earlier than the social gathering’s inception.
Lack of funds
Sentiments apart, lack of funds worries shakha pramukhs. Many of the shakha pramukhs that ThePrint spoke to stated although they might not be a part of the opposite camp, they don’t have sufficient funds to work.
This could possibly be one of many causes employees from the Shinde aspect are approaching these on the Thackeray aspect, and a few are switching over. Take the case of shakha quantity 170 in Chunabhatti space. In keeping with its pramukh, Baburao Extra, many individuals had been approached, together with himself. However aside from his upshakha pramukh, no person switched sides.
Extra, who has been with the Sena for the previous 30 years, stated, “Those that are going are doing so for the cash. We’re sticking with Uddhavji. However it’s true that the work is getting hampered for need of funds. We’ve got not stopped actions like blood donation camps and many others, however we may breathe simpler with extra funds.”
As for why most of them received’t transfer, he stated, “We’ve got been working for a few years. What have they executed for us? We didn’t work for any submit…I’m assured no person else will go.”
However a functionary from the Dadar department of Shinde’s Shiv Sena doesn’t fully agree. Talking on situation of anonymity, he stated, “We don’t must convey anybody forcefully. If a sainik doesn’t have any funds, what is going to he do? We, our MLA, have funds and therefore, we’re capable of work for the individuals.”
Shinde camp’s Telwane says that with MLA Sada Sarvankar by their aspect, shakha employees are capable of work for individuals within the space. “Individuals wish to be a part of us due to the funds. Those that are opposing us immediately have all the time executed so. Solely those that didn’t get together with Sarvankar haven’t joined us. The remainder wish to be with us,” he stated.
Acknowledging that fund circulate was a difficulty in the meanwhile, Anand Dubey, spokesperson of Shiv Sena (UBT), added, “Those that are with us are due to Thackeray. They’ve labored with us for a very long time. Shinde and the BJP have extra money however that has not stopped us. We’re telling our employees the identical…we’re assured we’ll win the BMC elections too.”
Sada Sarvankar, MLA of Shiv Sena (Shinde camp), advised ThePrint that there’s scope to accommodate extra individuals. “Our shakhas have individuals queuing up with their grievances. Since now we have the funds, persons are assured their work will get executed. We’re increasing and extra persons are becoming a member of us and we’ll accommodate them.”
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
Additionally learn: Can Shinde Sena concern whip to Thackeray faction? ‘Legally incomprehensible, can’t want MLAs away’