Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 6: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has launched the party's 'Ram Raksha Andolan' against the alleged donation embezzlement case at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, sparking fresh political debate over his renewed emphasis on Hindutva.

Through the protest, Thackeray raised the slogan "Garv Se Kaho Hum Hindu Hain" while targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over the alleged irregularities in the management of temple donations.

Responding to the campaign, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a swipe at Thackeray, saying he should always recite the Ram Raksha, signalling the beginning of another political confrontation between the ruling alliance and the opposition over the Hindutva narrative.

Thackeray's renewed focus on Hindutva comes against the backdrop of his 2019 decision to sever ties with the BJP and form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. Since then, the BJP and even some former Shiv Sena leaders have questioned his commitment to the Hindutva ideology.

Political observers believe the latest campaign also comes at a time when the political influence of the Shiv Sena (UBT) has weakened following the split in the party and the rise of the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Several senior leaders have left the Thackeray camp in recent years, strengthening the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Against this backdrop, the Ram Raksha Andolan is being viewed as an attempt by Uddhav Thackeray to reconnect with the party's traditional Hindutva support base and regain political momentum ahead of future electoral battles. Political circles are closely watching whether the campaign helps the former chief minister rebuild his support among core Shiv Sena voters.