Eknath Shinde gears up for elections; unveils Shiv Sena’s new organisational front

by Webdesk
10 Oct 2025

Mumbai: With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and several other local body elections fast approaching, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has taken a strategic step to consolidate support among Marathi voters. On Thursday, he launched the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Sena (SLS) — a new organisational wing aimed at energising the Shiv Sena’s grassroots presence and expanding its influence across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The launch event was held at Birla Matoshree Sabhagriha in Mumbai, marking the official rollout of this new Sena outfit. The move is widely seen as a major organisational push by Shinde’s faction in the run-up to the civic polls. Interestingly, the structure and purpose of the SLS closely resemble that of the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh (SLSM) — an influential body within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), the faction that remained after Shinde split from the parent party in 2022.

For decades, the SLSM has functioned as the organisational backbone of the original Shiv Sena, mobilising Marathi-speaking workers and professionals and playing a key role during elections. Recognising its success, Shinde appears to have revived the concept under his own leadership, giving it a renewed mission and structure suited to today’s political landscape.

During the launch, former MP Gajanan Kirtikar, who was the very first leader of the SLSM during Bal Thackeray’s era, was appointed as the head of the new SLS. Shinde also named his son, Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, as the working president, signalling a generational handover within the organisation and an effort to create a strong leadership network within his faction.

While addressing the large gathering at the event, Shinde paid tribute to Sena founder Bal Thackeray, recalling how Thackeray had founded the SLSM back in 1974 to fight against the “injustice faced by the Marathi manoos” in employment and social representation. Shinde noted, “We have witnessed the disciplined and effective work of the SLSM in the past. During elections, the SLSM played a vital role behind the scenes, working tirelessly for the cause of Marathi people. This was not just political — it was an emotional movement for the self-respect of the Marathi manoos.”

He went on to highlight how, over the years, Sena workers and the SLSM had always stepped forward during times of natural calamities and crises, providing help and relief to the people. Referring to Bal Thackeray’s ideology, Shinde said, “Balasaheb always believed that Shiv Sena should remain rooted to its original purpose — serving the Marathi people — and should never become like the Congress. That’s why he built strong organisations like the SLSM, which focused on Marathi pride and empowerment.”

By launching the SLS, Shinde has clearly sought to reinvigorate that organisational model under his leadership, signalling to party workers that the new Sena will continue to fight for Marathi identity while adapting to modern challenges.

Explaining the purpose of the SLS, Shinde said, “All Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs from Mumbai and the MMR region have been directed to actively assist Marathi youth in securing jobs and preparing for competitive examinations. For too long, Marathi candidates have lacked the guidance and support needed in these areas. Through the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Sena, we aim to fill that gap and extend help to as many people as possible.”

He further added that the new wing will focus not just on employment issues, but also on education, skill development, and representation in private and public sectors, making it a key component of the party’s outreach strategy before the elections.

Political observers believe that the launch of the SLS is a calculated electoral move designed to reconnect Shinde’s faction with the Marathi-speaking urban base — a constituency that has traditionally been the Sena’s strength but has seen a division since the party split in 2022. By recreating a familiar organisation like the SLSM under his own banner, Shinde is attempting to reclaim both the symbolism and the grassroots energy that once defined Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.

The timing of this initiative, just months before the BMC polls, suggests that Shinde is preparing for a high-stakes political battle to capture Mumbai’s municipal power, historically the Sena’s strongest bastion. With the SLS now functioning as a bridge between the party and the Marathi public, Shinde hopes to strengthen his faction’s appeal among core voters who identify with the Marathi cause.

The launch of the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Sena thus marks not only a new phase in the Eknath Shinde-led Sena’s organisational evolution, but also a symbolic reminder of Bal Thackeray’s original mission — to give the Marathi manoos a voice in his own city.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Eknath Shinde gears up for elections; unveils Shiv Sena’s new organisational front

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