The Shiv Sena (UBT) can be taken over completely if the Shinde faction is allowed to lay claim to all of the organization’s assets, money, and shakhas. The Shivai Seva Trust stands as the only obstacle.

The Election Commission took away the right for Uddhav Thackeray’s party to use the title “Shiv Sena” and the voting emblem of a bow and arrow because Thackeray had lost team members to Eknath Shinde the previous year. As the battle for the “true” Shiv Sena and the place in the history of its founding father Bal Thackeray continues, the faction led by Uddhav has petitioned the Supreme Court for a stay on the order issued by the polling body.

As a result of the order from the EC, the Shinde group has been placed in a position to establish total authority by laying claim to the assets, purses, and connections of shakhas that belong to the Shiv Sena (UBT). The single most important thing standing in the way is the Shivai Seva Trust, which is led by Subhash Desai, a Thackeray family supporter.

A grievance that was just recently submitted by a lawyer residing in Mumbai by the name of Yogesh Deshpande has disclosed that the well-known Shiv Sena Bhavan, which serves as the head office of the party, is originally owned by the Shivai Seva trust.

As stated in the report of the Survey Register of Mumbai city that was posted on Twitter by the figurehead of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Sandeep Deshpande, the trustees typically involve veteran officials such as Liladhar Dake, Diwakar Raote, Subhash Desai, South Mumbai MP Arvind Sawant, as well as Ex-Mumbai Mayor Vishakha Raut. 

Under the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, the fact that a public trust real estate has been used for purely political reasons for a number of decades makes it more difficult for both Sena clans to assert their rights to ownership of the property. In point of fact, in order to maintain their claim over this, the Uddhav faction is required to respond to the grievance.

Where do SHAKHAS fit in?

The Shivai Seva Trust will take over a large number of Shiv Sena’s regional shakhas, or office spaces.

“Even outside Mumbai, many shakhas are in the hands of shakha pramukhs or rural community organizations like mandals and trusts. As a result, no other political bodies can lay claim to them, “Rajya Sabha lawmaker and Uddhav Sena secretary Anil Desai spoke in a news.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH SAAMANA?

In a similar vein, the department of the party’s mouthpiece Saamana and the animated magazine Marmik, both of which were initiated by the Sena’s founding father Bal Thackeray, is not possessed by any political group but rather by a trust known as Prabodhan Prakashan. Because of this, it is protected from the present crisis.

Unions, not the political outfit, are in charge of Sena organizations like Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti and Bhartiya Kamgar Sena. This is because both of these organizations are affiliated with the Sena. An insider in the party disclosed that since this is the case, the claim that was made regarding it will require its own independent investigation under the union and labour Act.

WHERE DO PARTY FUNDS FIT IN?

According to the annual audit fact sheet for the fiscal year 2020–21 that Shiv Sena submitted to the ECI in February 2022, the party earned over Rs 13 – 14 crore through grant money, campaign contributions, memberships, and book deals.

However, Eknath Shinde has made it clear that his party will not contend any of the assets owned by the Uddhav Sena.