Shiv Sena Ad Claims Eknath Shinde Preferred As Chief Minister Over Devendra Fadnavis

The advertisement carries Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol and images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shinde. It has no image or photo of Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray, a noticeable departure going by its earlier publicity materials.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Tuesday placed a full-page advertisement in many newspapers titled "PM Modi for India, Eknath Shinde for Maharashtra", quoting a survey where Mr Shinde is shown as more preferred for the top post than BJP's Devendra Fadnavis.

The ad prompted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut to call the party "Narendra Modi-Amit Shah's Shiv Sena".

The advertisement carries Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol and images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shinde. It has no image or photo of Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray, a noticeable departure going by its earlier publicity materials.

"For the chief minister's position, 26.1 per cent of the people in Maharashtra desire Eknath Shinde and 23.2 per cent of the people wish to see Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister," reads the advertisement.