MUMBAI: Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena received a major setback ahead of the Mumbai civic body polls after the state government re-appointed Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray as the chairman of the Balasaheb Thackeray National Memorial Trust.
The MahaYuti government, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved the re-appointment despite strong opposition from the Shinde camp, which viewed the move as a signal for the Shinde Sena faction to accept the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ultimate authority in running the government and the alliance's functioning.
Reacting to the appointment, Fadnavis said, "We will consistently continue to walk on the path of ideology shown by the revered Shiv Sena Chief, the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray."
Former Mayor and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Kishori Pednekar hailed the government's decision, suggesting it would boost party morale ahead of the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.