Shiv Sena

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Shiv Sena
AbbreviationSHS
LeaderEknath Shinde[1]
Parliamentary ChairpersonGajanan Kirtikar
Lok Sabha LeaderRahul Shewale
FounderBal Thackeray
Founded19 June 1966 (57 years ago) (1966-06-19)
HeadquartersAnand Ashram, Thane, Thane district, Maharashtra[2]
NewspaperMarmik
Historical: Saamana[3]
Student wingBharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS)
Youth wingYuva Sena
Women's wingShiv Sena Mahila Aghadi
IdeologyMarathi regionalism[4][5]
Conservatism (Indian)[6]
Social conservatism[7]
Hindutva[8]
Hindu nationalism[9]
Economic nationalism[10]
Ultranationalism[11]
Right-wing populism[12]
Political positionRight-wing[13] to far-right[14]
Colours  Saffron
ECI StatusState Party
Alliance
  • NDA (1988–2019, 2022–Present) (National Level & Maharashtra)
  • UPA & MVA (2019–2022) (Maharashtra)
Seats in 
State Legislative Assemblies
Seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council
4 / 78
Election symbol
[15]
Party flag
Website
shivsena.in

Shiv Sena (

IAST: Śhiva Sēnā) (lit.'Army of Shivaji') is a right-wing Marathi regionalist and Hindu ultranationalist political party in India founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray.[16] Currently led by Eknath Shinde, this party is the ruling party of the Indian state of Maharashtra since 2019. Shiv Sena's election symbol is the Bow and Arrow. It uses the saffron colour in its flag and a image of a roaring tiger.[17]

Initially apolitical, the organisation was patronised by the then Chief Minister

culture
.

Although Shiv Sena's primary base always remained in

, the party left the alliance after disagreements with BJP over the CM post.

Under Uddhav Thackeray, Shiva Sena formed an alliance with its former rivals, the Indian National Congress and Nationalist Congress Parce.[23][24][25]

The party has had a powerful hold over the Hindi film industry.[26] It has been described as an "extremist",[27][28] "chauvinist",[29][30] or "fascist" party.[31][32] Shiv Sena in 2022has been allegedly involved in the 1970 communal violence in Bhiwandi, the 1984 Bhiwandi riot, and violence in the 1992–1993 Bombay riots.[33][34]

The party draws its strength from the support of the Maratha and Kunbi communities of Maharashtra which Shiv Sena drew away from the Indian National Congress.[35]

History

Origins

After the

Hyderabad state were joined with Maharashtra. Bombay, in many ways the economic capital of India, became the state capital of Maharashtra. On one hand, people belonging to the Gujarati community owned the majority of the industry and trade enterprises in the city.[36]
On the other hand, there was a steady flow of South Indian migrants to the city who came to take many white-collar jobs.

In 1960, Bal Thackeray, a Mumbai-based cartoonist, began publishing the satirical cartoon weekly Marmik. Through this publication, he started disseminating anti-migrant sentiments. On 19 June 1966, Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena as a political organisation.

The Shiv Sena attracted many unemployed Marathi youth, who were attracted by Thackeray's charged anti-migrant oratory. Shiv Sena cadres became involved in various attacks against the South Indian communities, vandalizing South Indian restaurants and pressuring employers to hire Marathis.[22]

Initially apolitical, the organisation was patronised by the then Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik who used it for curbing trade unions and maintain stranglehold of the Congress.[18][19] Because of its close association with Vasantrao, the organisation was also referred to as "Vasant Sena".[18][20]

The Shiv Sena declared support to the Emergency in 1975 and supported the Congress in the 1977 general election.[37] In 1980 Maharashtra Assembly election, the party did not contest from any seat however it campaigned for the Congress.[38][39][40]

Alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party

Bal Thackeray, at a gathering

The Sena started placing more weight on the Hindutva ideology in the 1970s as the 'sons of the soil' cause was weakening.[22]

In the 1984 general election, Shiv Sena formed its first alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena candidates fought on BJP's lotus symbol.[38][41]

The party began a coalition with the BJP for seats in the

2004 Lok Sabha elections the result was reversed. The Shiv Sena made inroads in the interior parts of the state, while suffering losses in Mumbai.[44]

Formation of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena

In July 2005, Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena leader Narayan Rane was expelled from the party, which sparked internal conflict in the party. In December the same year Raj Thackeray, Bal Thackeray's nephew, left the party.[45] Raj Thackeray later founded a separate party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). [citation needed][46]

Although the MNS is a break-away group from the Shiv Sena, the party is still based in Bhumiputra ideology. When unveiling the party in an assembly at Shivaji Park he said, everyone is anxious to see what will happen to Hindutva and, "I shall elaborate on the party's stance on issues like Hindutva, its agenda for development of Maharashtra and the significance of the party flag colours at the 19 March public meeting."[47]

Leadership change

Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray became the party's leader in 2004, although Bal Thackeray continued to be an important figurehead. After the death of Bal Thackeray on 17 November 2012, Uddhav became the leader of the party but refused to take the title "Shiv Sena Pramukh" (Eng : Shiv Sena Supremo).[48][49]

Ideology shifts

The Shiv Sena party's ideology has undergone changes since its formation. Initially, it started with the ideology of Marathi regionalism under the leadership of Bal Thackeray.[50][4] However, the party shifted towards ultranationalism and right-wing populism over time, which helped them form an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[51][52] [verification needed] When Uddhav Thackeray became the party leader, he gradually shifted towards composite nationalism and formed an alliance with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).[53] This shift in ideology was a significant departure from Shiv Sena's traditional stance, as the party had been historically opposed to the Congress and NCP for the majority of its existence.

2022 Political crisis and split in the party