Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday stirred the political pot with a pointed remark aimed at Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, during an interactive session at the FICCI Young Leaders Summit in Mumbai.
The interviewer, while moderating the session, quipped that the discussion would have been “fire with fire” if Shrikant Shinde—representing the rival Shiv Sena faction—had joined the panel. However, his absence set the stage for a moment that quickly went viral.
Responding with composure yet unmistakable intent, Aaditya Thackeray said, “We build things. Let’s not compare thieves to us.”
The comment immediately drew laughter and applause from the audience and began trending on social media within minutes. Many political observers viewed it as a direct dig at the Eknath Shinde-led faction, which has remained embroiled in a bitter rivalry with Uddhav Thackeray’s camp since the Shiv Sena split in 2022.
The remark also comes at a politically sensitive time, as Mumbai readies for the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections—considered a key battleground for both Sena factions. For decades, the civic body has been the Thackeray family’s stronghold, but the contest is now expected to be fiercely competitive.
While Aaditya Thackeray continues to project himself as the torchbearer of a “progressive and sustainable Mumbai,” focusing on clean governance, development, and environmental reforms, the Shinde-led group has accused his faction of corruption and mismanagement during its rule.
