Uddhav Thackeray Targets BJP and Shinde Faction in Dussehra Rally, Calls for Support to Farmers

Mumbai, Oct 2025 : Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray launched a fierce attack on the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led government, and the Centre during his annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Addressing thousands of party workers, Thackeray blended sharp political jibes with emotional appeals, calling on his supporters to stand with farmers devastated by natural calamities.

‘Those who left are brass, those with me are gold’

Opening his address with greetings on Dussehra and Vijayadashami, Thackeray reminded his followers of the repeated attempts to break the Shiv Sena. Taking a direct swipe at the BJP and Shinde camp, he said:
“They think they have kidnapped Shiv Sena by taking away some leaders. But what they have taken is brass. The real gold is with me—those who remain loyal and dedicate their lives to the cause.”

He likened the BJP to an “amoeba,” a party that changes shape according to convenience, forging alliances only for its own gain. Quoting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Thackeray warned that any party imposing dictatorship on India would face the people’s wrath.

Jibe at Shinde: ‘Donkey in saffron’

In a scathing remark directed at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray mocked him as a “donkey in Balasaheb’s saffron shawl.” He added, “You can drape a donkey in saffron as many times as you like, but it will still remain a donkey. This donkey is carrying Amit Shah’s shoes. One day, the people will deal with him, and that day is not far.”

BJP as ‘Kamalabai’

Thackeray reserved his sharpest words for the BJP, which he mocked as “Kamalabai.” Referring to the current administration, he said, “The lotus may have bloomed, but people are drowning in mud. Kamalabai’s administration has buried Maharashtra in misery.”

Farmers in crisis

Shifting his focus to agrarian distress, Thackeray delivered an emotional appeal to his cadre. He described the devastation in Marathwada, where crops have been destroyed and livelihoods ruined.
“Farmers are asking what they should eat. This is the worst crisis in recent history. I urge every Shiv Sainik to stand with our farmers and help them in whatever way possible,” he said.

He criticized the Devendra Fadnavis government for refusing to declare a drought. “When we were in power, they demanded it loudly. Now in power, they say drought doesn’t exist. I demand immediate relief—₹50,000 per hectare for every farmer, waiving criteria just as we waived farm loans during our tenure.”

Hindutva hypocrisy: Beef ban in Maharashtra, but open in Goa

Thackeray accused the BJP of double standards on Hindutva. “They lecture us on Hindutva. But while beef is banned in Maharashtra, in BJP-ruled Goa it is served openly. Why was Union Minister Kiren Rijiju not expelled when he himself admitted to eating beef?” he asked.

He asserted that the BJP cannot claim monopoly over Hindutva and that Balasaheb’s ideology was rooted in standing with the people, not in political theatrics.

National issues: Manipur and Modi’s silence

Turning national, Thackeray lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the prolonged violence in Manipur. “The state has been burning for three years, and the Prime Minister visited only recently. Even there, he cracked jokes instead of addressing the crisis,” he said.

Mumbai’s projects and BMC ‘loot’

Thackeray also accused the BJP of hijacking credit for major projects in Mumbai. “The Coastal Road, 24×7 Mumbai, the BDD Chawl redevelopment—these were our initiatives. Now the BJP shamelessly takes credit while looting the BMC for the last two years. Today, the BMC is in losses because of them,” he charged.

Shinde faction’s counterattack

Meanwhile, the Shinde camp responded aggressively. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde asserted that true Shiv Sainiks stand with the people, not with speeches. He reminded the audience that during crises in Maharashtra, Pahalgam, and Nepal, his faction had been on the ground providing aid.

Minister Uday Samant further defended Shinde, claiming that the decision to keep Shiv Sena members in their constituencies during Dussehra—to aid distressed farmers instead of attending rallies—was in line with Balasaheb’s ideology.

Closing note: Faith in people’s verdict

Concluding his fiery address, Thackeray reiterated that attempts to fracture the Shiv Sena would fail. “Those who left us are copper, those who remain are gold. The BJP seeks to win Mumbai elections by dividing people, but the people will answer them. Just as they rose against dictatorship in the past, they will rise again.”

With his Dussehra rally, Thackeray signaled both defiance and resolve, drawing battle lines ahead of the crucial civic and state elections, while keeping the farmers’ distress at the core of his political message.