Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena meaning “Army of Shivaji,” is a right-wing Marathi regionalist and Hindu ultranationalist political party in India. Founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray and currently led by Eknath Shinde, the party has been the ruling party of Maharashtra since 2019. Its election symbol is the Bow and Arrow, and its flag features the color saffron and an image of a roaring tiger.

Originally apolitical, Shiv Sena was initially supported by Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik to suppress trade unions and consolidate the Congress’s power. Concurrently, the organization led a pro-Marathi movement in Mumbai, advocating for preferential treatment for Marathi people over migrants from other regions of India. It also led a significant movement against South Indian residents in Bombay, accusing them of disrespecting Marathi culture.

Although Shiv Sena’s primary base has always been in Maharashtra, the party sought to broaden its influence across India. In the 1970s, Shiv Sena shifted from its pro-Marathi stance to a wider Hindu nationalist agenda and aligned itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party has consistently participated in Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. In 1989, it formed an alliance with the BJP for both the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. This alliance was temporarily disrupted in the 2014 elections due to seat-sharing issues but was quickly restored.

Shiv Sena was a founding member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 1998 and participated in both the Vajpayee Government (1998-2004) and the Narendra Modi Government (2014-2019). However, after the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election, Shiv Sena exited the alliance due to disagreements with the BJP over the Chief Minister position. Under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, the party formed a new alliance with its historical rivals, the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.

Following the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis, Shiv Sena split into two factions: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) led by Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, who retained control of the original party.

Elections:

Lok Sabha Elections:

Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections:

In the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections, Shiv Sena’s performance has fluctuated over the years. Under Bal Thackeray’s leadership, the party won 52 out of 288 seats in 1990, marking a significant increase with a 15.94% vote share and 4,733,834 popular votes, though it was in the opposition. In 1995, the party improved its position, securing 73 seats and achieving a 16.39% vote share with 6,315,493 popular votes, forming the government. The 1999 elections saw a slight decline, with Shiv Sena winning 69 seats and a vote share of 17.33%, but remaining in the opposition.

 In 2004, the party won 62 seats, with a higher vote share of 19.97% and 8,351,654 popular votes, still in opposition. The 2009 elections marked a drop to 44 seats and a 16.26% vote share with 7,369,030 votes, placing it in the opposition once again. Under Uddhav Thackeray in 2014, Shiv Sena won 63 seats, increasing its vote share to 19.35% and securing 10,235,970 popular votes, thus forming the government. However, in the 2019 elections, the party won 56 seats with a reduced vote share of 16.41% and 9,049,789 votes, continuing in government but with a slight decrease in its performance.

Origins:

After India’s independence in 1947, the regional administrative divisions from the colonial era were restructured, leading to the creation of states based on linguistic boundaries. Within the Bombay Presidency, a significant movement emerged advocating for a state for Marathi-speaking people. This effort culminated in 1960 with the division of the presidency into Gujarat and Maharashtra, and the integration of Marathi-speaking regions from the former Hyderabad state into Maharashtra. Bombay, an economic hub, was designated as the capital of the newly formed state.

In Bombay, the Gujarati community largely controlled the industrial and trade sectors, while a significant influx of South Indian migrants took up many white-collar jobs in the city. Against this backdrop, Bal Thackeray, a Mumbai-based cartoonist, launched the satirical weekly Marmik in 1960, which began to stir anti-migrant sentiments. On June 19, 1966, Thackeray founded Shiv Sena as a political organization, targeting Marathi-speaking youth who resonated with his anti-migrant rhetoric. Shiv Sena quickly became involved in violence against South Indian communities, including vandalizing their businesses and pressuring employers to hire Marathis.

Initially apolitical, Shiv Sena was supported by Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik, who used the organization to suppress trade unions and consolidate Congress’s influence. Due to this association, it was sometimes referred to as “Vasant Sena.” During the Emergency period in 1975, Shiv Sena backed the Congress, and in the 1977 general election, the party supported the Congress again. However, in the 1980 Maharashtra Assembly election, Shiv Sena chose not to contest any seats but campaigned in favor of the Congress.

With BJP:

In the 1970s, as the ‘sons of the soil’ movement waned, Shiv Sena began to increasingly embrace Hindutva ideology. This shift was marked by the party’s formation of its first alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 1984 general election, during which Shiv Sena candidates campaigned under the BJP’s lotus symbol.

Starting in 1989, Shiv Sena and the BJP entered into a formal coalition for both Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections. This alliance led to the formation of a government in Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. Following a period as the opposition from 1999 to 2014, the alliance faced a significant challenge during the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections due to disagreements over seat-sharing. Both parties contested the election separately, with the BJP emerging as the largest party. Despite initially declaring opposition, Shiv Sena later agreed to join the government following negotiations.

The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance also governs the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Traditionally, Shiv Sena’s strongholds have been Mumbai and the Konkan coastal areas. However, in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the party’s focus shifted, making significant gains in the interior regions of Maharashtra while experiencing setbacks in Mumbai.

Formation of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena:

In July 2005, internal strife within Shiv Sena led to the expulsion of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, which exacerbated existing conflicts within the party. Later that year, Raj Thackeray, the nephew of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, departed from the party. Subsequently, Raj Thackeray established a new political entity, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Despite being a breakaway faction from Shiv Sena, MNS continues to adhere to a similar “Bhumiputra” ideology. When launching the party, Raj Thackeray addressed supporters at Shivaji Park, highlighting his intent to clarify the party’s stance on Hindutva, its developmental agenda for Maharashtra, and the significance of the party’s flag colors at a public meeting scheduled for March 19.

Leadership Change

In 2004, Uddhav Thackeray succeeded his father, Bal Thackeray, as the leader of Shiv Sena, although Bal Thackeray remained a prominent figurehead until his death on November 17, 2012. After his father’s passing, Uddhav formally assumed the leadership role but chose not to adopt the title “Shiv Sena Pramukh” (Shiv Sena Supremo).

Ideology Shifts

Shiv Sena’s ideology has evolved significantly since its inception. Under Bal Thackeray, the party was rooted in Marathi regionalism. Over time, however, it transitioned toward ultranationalism and right-wing populism, which facilitated its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). When Uddhav Thackeray took over as party leader, he steered Shiv Sena towards composite nationalism, leading to a notable alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This represented a major ideological shift, given Shiv Sena’s historical opposition to both Congress and NCP for most of its existence.

2022 Political Crisis and Split in the Party

In late June 2022, a major political crisis unfolded within Shiv Sena when Eknath Shinde, a senior leader, along with a majority of the party’s MLAs, aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move led to a call for a trust vote by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, which was later criticized as a “sad spectacle” by the Supreme Court of India and drew significant condemnation from political observers. Facing imminent no-confidence motions, Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Chief Minister and from his position as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on June 29, 2022.

Following Thackeray’s resignation, Eknath Shinde formed a new coalition with the BJP and was sworn in as Chief Minister on June 30, 2022. Thackeray challenged Shinde’s actions in the Supreme Court, arguing that Shinde and his faction were disqualified under the anti-defection law. Shinde, on the other hand, contended that he was the legitimate representative of the Shiv Sena. The case remains under consideration by the Supreme Court.

The internal dispute resulted in a split within the party, with two factions emerging: Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), led by Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde’s faction petitioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) to retain the ‘Shiv Sena’ name and the Bow and Arrow symbol. The ECI ruled in favor of Shinde’s faction based on its legislative strength, rather than the organizational aspects. Thackeray has appealed this decision, and the matter is currently pending in the Supreme Court.

Controversies and Criticism:

Shiv Sena has faced numerous controversies over the years, including allegations of hooliganism, criminal activities, religious bigotry, and moral policing.

In December 2003, Shiv Sena activists damaged the cricket pitch at Agra’s Sports Stadium, disrupting a scheduled match between India and Pakistan. In April 2005, the party’s student wing, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, attempted to prevent an India-Pakistan cricket match in New Delhi, demanding Pakistan hand over 20 terrorists, including Dawood Ibrahim, and close its militant training camps.

Shiv Sena has also engaged in moral policing, notably opposing Valentine’s Day celebrations. In 2006, Bal Thackeray condemned the violent attacks on Valentine’s Day events in Mumbai by Shiv Sena members, emphasizing that women should not be harassed.

In November 2009, Shiv Sena activists attacked the offices of TV channels IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat in Mumbai and Pune, respectively, in response to criticism of Bal Thackeray. Shiv Sena justified these attacks, calling them “spontaneous.”

Following Bal Thackeray’s death in November 2012, Shiv Sena members pressured Mumbai Police to arrest a young woman for posting a critical comment about him on Facebook. The National Human Rights Commission later condemned the arrest as a violation of free speech, ordering compensation for the victims.

During the Kiss of Love protest in November 2014, Shiv Sena and other right-wing groups attacked demonstrators opposing moral policing. The protestors were taken into custody for their safety, but critics argued that the police allowed the counter-protestors to act with impunity.

In October 2015, Shiv Sena threatened to ban a concert by Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali to court anti-Pakistan sentiment. The party also attacked the BCCI office to prevent a meeting with Pakistani officials and threatened to stop a Pakistani umpire from officiating an ODI.

Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Gaikwad faced backlash in March 2017 after assaulting an Air India staff member, leading to his placement on India’s No-Fly List. In July 2017, Shiv Sena and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took legal action against a radio jockey for a parody video criticizing the BMC, drawing criticism for intolerance toward dissent.

During the 2018 Maharashtra Council and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, several Shiv Sena candidates had criminal records or pending charges. In September 2020, Shiv Sena leaders, including Sanjay Raut, threatened actress Kangana Ranaut following her criticism of the government. The BMC demolished part of her house, but the Bombay High Court later ruled in her favor, finding the action malicious.

In February 2022 and 2023, Shiv Sena workers in Madhya Pradesh engaged in moral policing against Valentine’s Day celebrations, prompting police to deploy undercover officers to prevent violence.

Activities:

Shiv Sena claims significant achievements, including its role in improving the lives of 500,000 slum dwellers in Mumbai’s Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum. However, its policy of providing free housing to slum residents, introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government, has been contentious.

In the 1970s, Shiv Sena opposed the Namantar Andolan, a Dalit-led movement to rename Marathwada University to “Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar University,” supporting conservative Maratha viewpoints.

In 1996, Shiv Sena organized the only live concert of Michael Jackson in India to fund its business wing and create over 270,000 jobs in Maharashtra.

In 2010, Shiv Sena earned a Guinness World Record for “collecting the maximum blood in a day” through a camp that gathered over 24,000 bottles of blood, though this record was later surpassed by an HDFC Bank camp in 2014.

In 2015, Shiv Sena announced financial aid of 10,000 rupees to each drought-affected farmer in Marathwada and a 200,000 rupee “reward” to Hindu families with five children born between 2010 and 2015 in Uttar Pradesh, citing concerns about the declining Hindu population growth compared to Muslims.

In January 2016, Shiv Sena demanded the removal of the words “secular” and “socialist” from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, added during the 42nd Amendment. In April 2019, party member Sanjay Raut advocated for a ban on the burqa.