Eknath Shinde to remain Shiv Sena’s chief leader

He chairs party’s national executive meeting; seeks Bharat Ratna for Savarkar 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Tuesday held its first national executive meeting during which a resolution seeking the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, for Hindutva idealogue and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was passed.

“Member of Parliament (Mumbai North East) Gajanan Kirtikar proposed Bharat Ratna (posthumously) to V.D. Savarkar. Other leaders have supported it and a resolution was passed,” State Industries Minister Uday Samant said.

He said the meeting was chaired by Mr. Shinde, who continues to remain their Mukhya Neta (Chief leader).

Last week, the Election Commission of India recognised the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena, and allotted it the poll symbol of the party, the bow and arrow.

Mr. Samant said that another resolution discussed at the meeting was renaming the Western Railway’s Churchgate Railway Station after former Union Minister Chintaman Rao Deshmukh.

He also said that a disciplinary committee headed by Minister Dada Bhuse, Minister Shambhuraj Shivajirao Desai and Sena leader Sanjay More as members was constituted. “It will ensure the smooth functioning of the party and will take action against Sena leaders who act against the party lines,” Mr. Samant said.

“We have decided to take forward the ideals of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and run the party by following the guidelines of the Election Commission,” he said.