One year after split, two Shiv Senas to mark foundation day at separate events today

The Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena would be celebrating the party's foundation day at separate events in Mumbai on June 19.

The day is likely to witness a verbal duel as both factions are trying to claim the mantle of the `true inheritor' of party founder late Bal Thackeray's legacy ahead of the next year's Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections as well as the long-due civic polls in Mumbai.

Shinde then became chief minister with the BJP's support and the Election Commission of India subsequently granted his faction the original party name and `bow and arrow' symbol while the Thackeray group was named Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

While the Shinde-led Shiv Sena will hold its event at the NESCO ground in Goregaon in northwest Mumbai on Monday, the Shiv Sena (UBT) will celebrate the foundation day at Shanmukhanand Hall at Sion in central Mumbai.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut asserted that the Uddhav Thackeray-led group was the real Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, the son of chief minister Eknath Shinde, said party workers from across the state will gather for the event.