About Shiv Sena

Monday, 5 October 2015 – 7:02am IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: dna | From the print edition
Chaitanya Marpakwar

At a time when there was speculation that the Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Sena (BVS), the Shiv Sena’s student wing would be disbanded, the party has decided to revive it.

The BVS, which was once headed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, will now be overlooked by his nephew and Shiv Sena president Uddhav’s son Aditya.

After being sidelined for over five years, the BVS will soon play an active part in taking on the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJPs’ student wing.

“The BVS will be revamped completely. We have adopted a bottom-up approach. The existing organization will not be dissolved. New office bearers will be appointed and all of them will be youngsters,” said a senior Sena leader.

According to Sena leaders, the BVS will work in tandem with the Yuva Sena, which is headed by Aditya. Ever since the Yuva Sena was launched in 2010, the BVS has been sidelined. After Raj left the Sena to form his own MNS; the Sena had appointed Abhijit Panse as its head.

Soon, Panse was transferred to the Bhartiya Chitrapat Sena as president. He eventually quit the Sena and joined the MNS in 2014. The BVS has been headless since.

“There will be no president. Adityaji will look after the BVS’s affairs and there will be a core team. Though there will be an age limit of around 30 years, existing office bearers will continue,” the leader added.

BVS, which was Sena’s recruitment agency for roping in young blood, had become dormant after the formation of Yuva Sena. The Sena is hoping that the revival of the BVS will help it connect with youngsters and increase its cadre strength. “The BVS and Yuva Sena will work together. Both will be independent but we will ensure there is co-ordination between the two,” a Yuva Sena functionary said.

Some leaders pointed out that Aditya would not head the BVS formally to avoid any comparison between him and uncle Raj. In 2010, the Yuva Sena successfully contested the university senate elections.

“We have the senate elections, followed by the BMC polls. We did not want to disband such a strong organisation so we decided to revive it. BVS will take on the ABVP in the senate polls. However, it won’t be an organisation to adjust people. We will promote genuine and loyal workers,” another Sena leader said.

About Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena was founded by famous political cartoonist Bal Keshav Thackeray who is also called as Hindu Hriday Samraat by his followers. It was this day (June 19 1966) when the regional political party was found.

The party was established with the objective of providing preferential treatment for Maharashtrians over the immigrants in the city. It is currently headed by Uddhavaji Thackeray, Bal Thackeray’s son. The party is headquartered in Maharashtra. By aligning itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party, it started to support Hindu nationalist view instead of advocating the pro-Marathi ideology.

Shiv Sena in Brief:

Founded on June 19, 1996

Founded by Bal Thackeray

Current Chairperson – Uddhav Thackeray

Lok Sabha leader – Anant Geete

Rajya Sabha leader – Sanjay Raut

Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Saamana – Its Marathi newspaper launched in 1988 by Bal Thackeray who was also the editor of the newspaper. Post his death, his son was named the editor.

Its student wing is called Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena

Its youth wing is called Yuva Sena

Its women wing is called Shiv Sena Mahila Aghadi

Seats

o Lok Sabha 18/545

o Rajya Sabha 3/245

Facts you should know about the party:

o Bal Thackeray started his career in 1960 in the weekly newspaper Marmik.

o The founder is known as Hindu Hriday Samrat (Emperor of the Hindu hearts) by his followers.

o It was Keshav Thackeray, father of Bal Thackeray from whom he was inspired to form the party.

o Since Bal Thackeray used religion as a tool to gain votes he was banned to vote and contest in the elections for six years by the Election Commission

o Thackeray supported Hitler and considered him an artist.

Controversies:

o Many cricket fans oppose Shiv Sena as Shiv Sena activists damaged the cricket pitch which was supposed to host the match between Pakistan and India.

o Shiv Sena activists attacked and defaced the IBN7 office. The activists reacted when the news channel criticized Bal Thackeray.