The Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena is facing significant internal criticism, particularly from former spokesperson Kishore Tiwari, who has launched a strong attack on its leadership. He accused the party of lacking a clear program and direction, resulting in a mass exodus of leaders. Tiwari criticized the Thackeray group for not taking a firm stance on key ideological issues, such as the controversies surrounding Sanatan Dharma and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He alleged that there is poor coordination within the party and that many MPs left after Eknath Shinde's rebellion without any effort to retain them. He further claimed that dissatisfaction with Vinayak Raut's leadership prompted several leaders to resign.
In response to his criticism, the Thackeray group expelled Tiwari. However, after his removal, he made several explosive allegations regarding the party's internal dynamics. Tiwari claimed that Varun Sardesai and Aaditya Thackeray secured their positions with the support of Bangladeshi voters and that party leaders instructed members to refrain from commenting on Congress’s anti-Hindu remarks. He alleged that the party intentionally avoided Hindutva issues during elections to attract Muslim votes in Mumbai.
Tiwari also expressed frustration over his unsuccessful attempts to meet Uddhav Thackeray, stating he traveled to Mumbai ten times at his own expense without ever being granted an audience. "I met Uddhav Thackeray only once and requested a peaceful discussion, but that moment never arrived," he said, criticizing the party’s indifference toward its members as self-destructive.
Additionally, Tiwari targeted Sanjay Raut, accusing him of promoting his own views rather than the party's official stance. He claimed Raut’s self-reliance agenda further divided the party, contributing to key departures, including that of Dushyant Chaturvedi, a close associate of Aaditya Thackeray from Nagpur.
The party has yet to respond to Tiwari’s claims, but his remarks underscore the growing instability within the faction. With Sharad Pawar openly engaging with Eknath Shinde and former members questioning leadership, the Thackeray group appears to be struggling with internal discontent as crucial political battles loom.