Mumbai: Eknath Shinde was on Monday re-elected the Shiv Sena‘s chief leader at the party’s national executive meeting. There was a demand from party functionaries that Shinde be elected as the Sena’s party chief, a post that Uddhav Thackeray held in the united Shiv Sena and currently holds in the Shiv Sena (UBT). At Monday’s executive meeting, Shinde was re-elected chief leader and not the party chief. Shinde was elected as Sena’s chief leader in 2022 after he broke away from Uddhav along with 40 other MLAs. Later, the Election Commission (EC) and speaker Rahul Narwekar recognised the Shinde-led Sena faction as the real Shiv Sena. In Shinde’s Sena, the post of party chief has been kept vacant since 2022.Shinde said the Sena will not compromise on the Marathi language. Shinde announced that there will be internal elections in the Sena for party posts. The GRs on Hindi as third language were also discussed, and Shinde directed party workers to take on the Sena (UBT) on the issue.A resolution was also passed to congratulate PM Narendra Modi for the successful Operation Sindoor. Shinde also told ministers to make sure their statements and comments don’t embarrass or damage the Mahayuti.“From the shakha pramukh to the chief leader, everyone will have to face the election. The active members of the party will be the voters. This election will be held in seven phases, digitally, that is, online and in person. There will be no hiding or trying to impose anyone’s leadership. This election will be historic. Elections will be held in a completely transparent and impartial manner. Even if it is the chief leader, we will face the election properly. Be it the shakha pramukh or the chief leader, everyone is equal in democracy,” Shinde said at the executive meeting.“Workers create leaders. They build parties. So protect workers. Don’t let the idea of becoming leaders, MLAs, ministers go to your head. Always work as workers. Shiv Sainik is the biggest position. A party doesn’t grow by growing a single person. We have to grow workers,” Shinde said.
