Amit Shah declares Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena as the sole party

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has definitively stated that only one Shiv Sena exists, and it is led by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This assertion was made during a public rally in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, a significant political statement that effectively dismisses the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) as a legitimate entity. Shah's declaration comes at a time when the Shiv Sena (UBT) is experiencing considerable internal turmoil, with reports indicating that at least six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs are poised to defect and join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. This potential mass defection, dubbed 'Operation Tiger' by some media outlets, would significantly bolster the Shinde faction and further diminish Uddhav Thackeray's political standing. The shift in parliamentary numbers would also provide a boost to the ruling NDA government at the center. The timing of Shah's statement is strategic, occurring amidst these defections and following the Election Commission's earlier decision in February 2023, which recognized the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena and allotted it the party's symbol and name. Shah had previously echoed similar sentiments, stating after the Election Commission's order that 'Shinde Sahab's Shiv Sena is the real Shiv Sena' and that 'truth has won.' His remarks in Kolhapur serve to consolidate this position and signal a definitive end to the Shiv Sena split, at least from the perspective of the ruling party and its allies. The Union Home Minister also used the platform to criticize Uddhav Thackeray's alliance with the Congress, accusing the latter of using 'infiltrators as its vote bank' and asserting that India is not a 'dharamshala' where such individuals can reside. He vowed that his government would identify and expel all infiltrators from the country. Alongside his political pronouncements, Shah participated in significant developmental activities in Kolhapur. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for the Rs 1,445.97 crore Shri Ambabai (Mahalaxmi) Temple Development Plan. This ambitious project aims at the conservation, heritage preservation, and modernization of the temple complex, along with the creation of new amenities for devotees and the promotion of regional tourism. The project, spread over 28,000 square meters, includes a new circumambulation path, conservation of peripheral shrines, and the preservation of the main temple structure. The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, underscoring the collaborative efforts in the state. Shah highlighted this project as a part of the 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' (Development and Heritage) vision of the Modi government. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena, in response to Shah's statement, has welcomed the declaration, further solidifying the narrative of their legitimacy. Uddhav Thackeray, however, has hit back, asserting that his Shiv Sena is the only true Shiv Sena, a sentiment echoed by his party members who have accused the BJP of orchestrating the split and seeking to weaken the opposition. The political developments surrounding the Shiv Sena have major implications for Maharashtra's political landscape and the national ruling coalition, as the consolidation of factions and potential shifts in parliamentary numbers could impact legislative processes and electoral strategies.

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