While talks of tension between the ruling parties haven’t died, Shiv Sena has claimed that Eknath Shinde is the popular preference, not BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, for the next CM of Maharashtra. The Shinde Sena supported the claim with survey findings. Shinde’s party published full page advertisements in newspapers across the state on Tuesday under the headline, “Modi for India, Shinde for Maharashtra, the dream team loved by all.” The campaign carried pictures of PM Narendra Modi, Shinde and Shiv Sena’s official symbol.

As the day progressed, the tone and tenor of the campaign turned out to be a publicity disaster that evoked adverse reactions from the BJP camp and the Opposition. Considering it “‘childish work,” the BJP chose to refrain from reacting, but the Opposition questioned whether the Shinde Sena was still faithful to the late Balasaheb Thackeray, because the party founder who is invoked by Shinde time and again, had no place in the party campaign. Instead, PM Modi was seen prominently, prompting the Thackeray-led Sena to call it the Modi Sena.