Playing out a clip of his taking oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister from Shivaji Park in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday sent out both a message and a warning to his rivals as he delivered his annual Dussehra speech from the iconic Mumbai park. 

A little over 10 km from the first venue, at Azad Maidan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde delivered his Dussehra speech, comparing his former boss, Uddhav Thackeray, with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, suggesting Muslim appeasement politics.

The combative speeches come weeks before Maharashtra polls, which are to be held before November-end.

Recalling his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership in June 2022, Mr Shinde said he freed the real Shiv Sena from the clutches of those who betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals.

“Had the uprising not been carried out by us, true Shiv Sainiks would have been humiliated and Maharashtra would have gone back many years,” said Mr Shinde, accused the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of blocking various development projects, saying that the state’s debt rose by Rs 17,000 crore due to the arrogance and stalling of the projects.

Uddhav Thackeray, during his speech, referred to Mr Shinde-led Sena as “duplicate”. 

“Ratan Tata once told me that JRD Tata trusted him after seeing his work, and then handed over his legacy. He said Balasaheb also chose you (Uddhav) after he found you trustworthy,” Mr Thackeray said, recounting a conversation with the iconic businessman who died this week, underlining his claim on the party. 

Taking aim at his former ally, Mr Thackeray said the BJP should be ashamed of calling itself “Bharatiya.” He also compared it to the Kauravas, accusing it of showing arrogance.

Baba Siddique, former Maharashtra minister, was shot at his MLA son’s office on Saturday in Bandra and has been rushed to Lilavati hospital where his condition is said to be critical. Three bullets were fired at him, sources have told NDTV.

Here are top facts about the leader:

Baba Siddique, who joined Congress as a teenager, pulled a big switcheroo in February when he quit his party of 48 years and joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
“My condition in the Congress was how curry leaves are used to enhance the taste of food. I was treated like that in the Congress Party,” the 66-year-old said in a Parthian shot at his former party.
Mr Siddique’s son, Zeeshan, is a Congress MLA from Bandra (East) in Mumbai. However, Zeeshan was expelled for anti-party activities in August.
The firing comes months after shots were fired outside actor Salman Khan’s house.
The politician is known for his grand Iftar parties which are attended by top Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
 

The BBC’s Lucy Williamson travels with the Israeli military to a village destroyed during its fighting with Hezbollah. 

​The BBC’s Lucy Williamson travels with the Israeli military to a village destroyed during its fighting with Hezbollah.