BJP and Uddhav-led Sena rivalry between "Kamalabai" and "Penguin Sena" intensifies

As leaders from both parties engage in more venomous attacks, it appears that the animosity between the BJP and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is intensifying. The former has referred to the latter as "Kamalabai," and the latter has called it "Penguin Sena." The name "Kamalabai" refers to the lotus or kamal that serves as the electoral symbol for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the term "Penguin Sena" is used by opponents to disparage the Thackeray-led Sena.

 

Aaditya Thackeray, the party's youth wing's leader and the son of Uddhav Thackeray, had a particular project: bringing penguins to Mumbai. From Seoul, South Korea, eight Humboldt penguins were transported to the city's Byculla Zoo in 2016. The Thackeray-led Sena and the BJP are not the only parties involved in this verbal conflict, as the former has also made derogatory statements about the party's breakaway MPs, who are now serving in the state administration.

 

The Eknath Shinde-led camp of rebel MPs has been mocked by the Thackeray faction as "gaddar" (traitors) and called "50 khoke" (boxes), suggesting that each MLA received Rs 50 crore to change sides. Aaditya Thackeray, who last month referred to state Health Minister Tanaji Sawant as "khekda," is leading the campaign on the dissidents (crab).

 

And this argument is likely to get worse before the key elections for the financially lucrative Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which both factions are fighting to win. On June 29 of this year, the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration fell due to a rebellion by Shinde and 39 other lawmakers against the Sena leadership. The following day, Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP took the oath of office as Shinde's deputy. Since then, tensions between the Thackeray-led Sena and the BJP have gotten worse.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @themaktab