Shiv Sena

A senior Sena-UBT leader, preferring anonymity, told IANS that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is unlikely to take part in the BJY owing to the current political situation here, but will depute a high-level team of leaders to express solidarity with Gandhi and the Congress.

To a query on the topic, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "We were in the MVA government in Maharashtra and Shiv Sena was an ally, and we will welcome whoever wants to join the Yatra." However, sources say that the detail is being worked out with the Shiv Sena-UBT leader as a show of massive strength in wake of the MVA government's fall due to defections.

A delegation of prominent Marathi Muslims and NGOs called on Thackeray and extended their full support to the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray. The delegation comprised MMSS President Faquir M. Thakur, Nuruddin Naik, Ismail Samdule, Dr A.R. Khan, Capt. Akbar Khalfe and other key members from all over the state.

This paves the way for a smooth election for Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party nominee Rutuja Ramesh Latke on November 3. Hours after the announcement by state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, candidate Murji Patel withdrew his nomination papers on Monday evening - the last date for withdrawal.

Shiv Sena state president Anil Singh said in a statement that Shaukat Ali had crossed all limits while making the comments and Hindus would not tolerate it. "It is because of people like him that even nationalist Muslims are viewed with suspicion," he said. Singh termed the AIMIM leader as a "PFI agent" and said that if he did not mind his language, his tongue would be cut off.

Sanjay Raut recalled how his Mom - Savita R. Raut - had sat stoically near a photo of the Shiv Sena founder, the late Balasaheb Thackeray at their home, when the ED team raided their home (July 31), and how she finally lost composure and broke down when the sleuths took him away that evening.

Thackeray had himself campaigned for Bhujbal - who won hands down, becoming the sole party MLA in the 7th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly then. "The 'Flaming Torch' was chosen because it was a symbol of revolution, showing a new path to the people of the state... I became the only candidate to win the polls that time and Balasaheb was very pleased about it," Bhujbal told media persons.

Accordingly, the Thackeray group has been given the name of Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and it has been allotted a new symbol of a flaming torch. Similarly, the breakaway Shinde group has allotted the identity of "Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena" and it has been ordered to submit new options for a symbol by 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Raj Thackeray is the nephew of Shiv Sena founder the late Balasaheb Thackeray -- and estranged cousin of ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray -- and had quit the party in 2005 to launch the MNS in 2006. He issued an appeal to all his party leaders and workers "not to speak to the media on the issues (in Shiv Sena) or make posts on the social media".

Informally interacting with the mediapersons outside the court where he was brought for his bail case plea, Raut was asked for his reaction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) freezing the Sena's iconic 'bow and arrow' symbol and its name (Shiv Sena) last week.