‘Won't surprised if they hug Hamas, Hizbul’: Eknath Shinde slams Uddhav Thackeray at Dussehra rally

Both Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde addressed Dussehra rallies in Mumbai, taking potshots at each other.

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday lashed out at Shiv Sena (UBT) faction chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of burying the Hindutva ideology of Sena founder Bal Thackeray for power.

In his Dussehra rally address at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, Shinde without naming Thackeray accused him of backstabbing the late Sena founder.

"Won't be surprised if they (Shiv Sena-UBT) ally with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and even “hug terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba for their selfish motives and chair (power)”, PTI quoted the Maharashtra CM as saying.

"You have buried the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray by going with Congress and Samajwadis for power. Balasaheb had given 'Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai' slogan from 'Shivtirth' (Shivaji Park ground) but slogans like 'Garv se kaho hum Congressi and Samajwadi hai' are being given from that venue," Shinde said.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde addresses during the 'Ravan Dahan' on the occasion of Dussehra, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Tuesday. (ANI)

It was a battle of rallies between the two Shiv Sena factions in the country's financial capital. Thackeray also addressed his annual Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park in Dadar.

‘Challenge you to hold polls to show who’s the real Sena': Thackeray

Alleging that attempts were made to ‘steal’ the Shiv Sena, the former Maharashtra chief minister said,"After we come to power, we will hang upside down those who are harassing us".

“We approached the Supreme court on MLAs disqualification matter, and Assembly Speaker told decision in this regard will be taken in a time bound manner. I want to tell them to forget this matter. Conduct elections and the people of Maharashtra will tell you who is the real Shivsena. I challenged you to conduct elections if you have power”, ANI quoted Thackeray as saying.

Targeting the BJP, his friend-turned-foe, Thackeray said there should be a strong government, but not of "any one party with a brute majority."

“The BJP or (its predecessor) Jana Sangh played no role in any struggle including that for the country's freedom”, Thackeray said.