Both factions of Shiv Sena should come together: Shinde Sena leader Bachchu Kadu

Chhatrapatisambhajinagar,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2026 18:52 IST

Shiv Sena leader Bachchu Kadu on Saturday appealed to the two Sena factions led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray to reunite, saying the party's strength should grow. Kadu said the top leaders of both sides should "take a few steps forward" for bringing the organisation together, while stressing that this was his personal view.

Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar a day after both the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT) marked the party's 60th foundation day, the former state minister also said Dharashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar appeared to have decided to switch sides and join the Shinde-led Sena.

Kadu, who recently joined the party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and was elected to the legislative council, said, "I feel that everyone should think about how the Shiv Sena's strength will increase. Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde should drop some issues and work together."

Asked whether such a reunion was possible at the moment, he said, "It may not happen (now) because everyone is firm in their place."

He said, "The Shiv Sena is important as it is an organisation of the soil. Efforts should be made in the direction of coming together. This is my personal feeling....it might be the feeling of some party workers too. There is no alternative to 'Maharashtra dharma' in the state," adding that senior leaders should move ahead to reunite the party.

Kadu also said Nimbalkar, who on Thursday defied a whip issued by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and, along with five other 'rebel' MPs, did not attend a meeting of its parliamentary party in Delhi, seemed to have made up his mind to cross over to the Shinde-led Sena. Overall, Kadu's remarks centred on a call for unity in the Shiv Sena and his view that one of the UBT camp's MPs was preparing to switch sides.

- Ends