Post Shiv Sena-BJP break-up, party chief Uddhav Thackeray to address rally in Mumbai

Two days after the break-up of its 25-year-old alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackery will break his silence on Saturday, addressing a rally at Mahalakshmi Race course in Mumbai. Failing to bury their differences, both the parties, who were caught in a tug of war over seat sharing for over three weeks decided to break the alliance on Thurday as Shiv Sena remained firm on contesting 151 seats.

During the rally, Uddhav is expected to speak on the BJP's decision to part ways, the unraveling of the six-party Mahayuti rainbow coalition and will also unfold Sena's agenda for the Maharashtra assembly polls as he kicks off his election campaign. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray will also address the gathering.

Also read: Maharashtra assembly polls: Shiv Sena, BJP break 25-year-old alliance

Pushing its original "sons-of-the-soil" agenda, soon after the break-up with its ally, Sena on Friday had lashed out at BJP calling it an "enemy of Maharashtra" and signaled a return to its original "marathi asmita'' (marathi pride) plank for the October 15 polls.

The BJP had strongly reacted saying that the 'marathi asmita' and king Shivaji could not be monopolised by its estranged ally or any other party. Speaking to a news channel, senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse had said, "The pride of Mumbai and Marathi is not the monopoly of Shiv Sena or Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). This issue is whipped up to garner votes. We are a national party but we too have fought for the Marathi people."