"Shiv Sena's Dussehra rally [on Thursday] was unprecedented. The credit does not go to me. Even in the rain, Shiv Sainiks came from all corners of Maharashtra. There are no doors at Shivaji Park... There was no need to close the door like others," said Thackeray
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses the media in Pune, on Saturday. Pic/X
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday took a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, referring to the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, and said there was no need to close the doors.
Addressing a press conference in Pune, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief criticised Shinde’s alleged closed-door meetings with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and slammed him again for splitting the party, reported news agency ANI.
UddhavSaheb Thackeray #LIVE | पत्रकार परिषद | पुणे https://t.co/MhWC2tuwag
— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) October 4, 2025
"Shiv Sena's Dussehra rally [on Thursday] was unprecedented. The credit does not go to me. Even in the rain, Shiv Sainiks came from all corners of Maharashtra. There are no doors at Shivaji Park... There was no need to close the door like others," said Thackeray.
Taking another dig, he added that just as journalists who began their careers at Saamana later joined other organisations, similarly, leaders who were once part of Shiv Sena have moved to other political parties.
"Many journalists began with Saamana and then went here and there... The same is with politics. Several leaders were trained under Shiv Sena, what happened next I do not have to tell you," he said.
Thackeray also recalled that Shiv Sena's first Dussehra rally was held in 1966, and since then, holding rallies at Shivaji Park has been part of the party’s tradition.
He said, "When Shiv Sena's first Dussehra rally happened in 1966, I was just six years old. Then, Shiv Sena chief said that the rally will be held at Shivaji Park. He was asked, 'You know how big Shivaji Park is? Look for a small hall or ground.' Balasaheb said that the first rally would be held at Shivaji Park...It was raining, and Sanjay and the other leaders asked me, so I said Shivaji Park is our tradition, how can we hold a rally in a hall?"
Reiterating the idea of the "Thackeray brand", he added, "The Thackeray brand is not something that was born today, it has been going on for the last five or six generations. What is special is that the Thackeray brand was born in Pune."
In his address during the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, Thackeray had launched an attack on the Mahayuti government. The same day, Shinde spoke at Shiv Sena’s Dussehra event in NESCO, Goregaon, where he emphasised the party’s commitment to supporting farmers and upholding Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy.
Dussehra rallies have long been part of Shiv Sena’s tradition, providing a platform to make promises to supporters. Following the party split, these annual events have also become a stage to showcase political strength.
(With ANI inputs)
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