Speaking at a rally in Rajapur, Maharashtra, as part of the `Shiv Sankalp` mass outreach programme ahead of the upcoming general elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray would have praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to build the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, stated a report in PTI. 

The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2019, repealed Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that granted Jammu and Kashmir its special status. They then split the state into two union territories.

Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray passed away in 2012. 

According to the report, addressing a crowd on Monday, Shinde, focusing on the importance of these achievements, said, “The abrogation of Article 370 and construction of the Ram temple was Balasaheb Thackeray`s dreams. These have now materialised because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Had Balasaheb been alive, he would have patted Modi`s back in appreciation.”

Reflecting on the Shiv Sena schism that resulted in the demise of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi administration in June 2022, CM Shinde stated that the move was not motivated by personal gain but rather by a desire to defend “Balasaheb`s ideals”, the PTI report stated. 

“We are the true descendants of his thoughts. When the Shiv Sena (UBT) asked for Rs 50 crore lying in the accounts of Shiv Sena, we gave the money. We are not here for money,” CM Shinde was quoted as saying. 

Following the schism, the Election Commission assigned the Shiv Sena name and `bow and arrow` symbol to Shinde`s group, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray retained the burning torch as its symbol, the PTI report stated. 

Meanwhile, the verdict on the disqualification petitions against CM Eknath Shinde and several MLAs, whose rebellion split Sena in 2022, will be announced by Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar on January 10. 

The Supreme Court had earlier given Narwekar a deadline of December 31 to announce the verdict however, a fortnight before the deadline`s last day, the top court granted a 10-day extension setting January 10 as the new date for the decision. 

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