Mumbai: In a first, the Mahayuti government, with full backing from the NDA government at the Centre, has put its weight behind the 395th birth anniversary celebration events of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, to be organised on February 19.
In 2014, after its official split from the undivided Shiv Sena, the BJP had announced its campaign, loosely translated as ‘Lenge Chhatrapati Shivaji Ka Ashirwad, Denge Modi Ko Saath’ (We will take Chhatrapati’s blessings and support Narendra Modi). With a cleaved Shiv Sena, the BJP also supported Eknath Shinde’s claim to the legacy of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, who was the first to be at the forefront of drafting the youth in his party by invoking the Maratha warrior’s valour.
About The Plan
The plan for grand Shiv Jayanti celebrations across the state, according to sources, is aimed at appropriating Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy and, with it, the Maratha voters. However, Shinde’s Shiv Sena has been curiously left out of this political design. With a forever changing political arithmetic, the BJP wants to leave no stone unturned and has now set its sights on the Maratha legacy.
It will organise ‘Jai Shivaji – Jai Bharat’ padayatra across the state with the main event in Pune, in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya. The minister has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to join him at the historic Shaniwar Wada in Pune.
Following a letter by the Union ministry, the state government has asked all district collectors and officers of the sports department to ensure 100% participation from all the important departments at the local level, the cleaning and upkeep of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, and the presence of all party MPs and MLAs. The programme has been scheduled at 7.30 am with a virtual inaugural address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by the padayatra that will start at 8 am and end at 10 am, with a minimum distance of 6km covered.
Besides, the department has asked to ensure the presence of MYBharat volunteers, the National Service Scheme and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan units, and school and college students. The Centre has also issued an 11-page SOP for MYBharat Padyatra that suggests themes, routes, merchandise, pre-events and event day programmes, and content for promotion of the event through various modes and publicity through social media.
Not to be left behind, the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has also decided to organise ‘Swarajya Week’ from February 19-27. A grand rally is scheduled in Mumbai from Dadar to Chembur in which party MP Praful Patel, ex-minister Chhagan Bhujbal, and Nawab Malik will participate. Pawar himself will be at the Shivneri Fort, state president Sunil Tatkare will be at Padmadurg Fort, and minister Aditi Tatkare will be at Raigad Fort.
