In major jolt to Uddhav Thackeray, his nephew extends support to Eknath Shinde

Nihar Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray's nephew, on Friday extended his support to Eknath Shinde.

Nihar Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray's nephew, has extended his support to the Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This development is a major boost to the Shinde camp who approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the real Shiv Sena.

Nihar Thackeray is the grandson of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and the son of late Bindumadhav Thackeray, who died in an accident in 1996.

Nihar works as an advocate in Mumbai and is married to BJP leader Harshvardhan Patil's daughter, Ankita.

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Meanwhile, the EC has asked both Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde to submit documentary evidence to prove that they have the majority members in the Shiv Sena.

Both the groups have been asked to submit a reply by 1 pm on August 8, after which the EC will hold a hearing regarding the claims and disputes between both factions of the Shiv Sena.

The ongoing tussle over the "real Shiv Sena" reached the EC, with both the Uddhav faction and the Thackeray faction writing to the poll panel staking claims to the party.