A row of tension has erupted between Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena and Congress over naming of city Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar of Maharashtra. Both the allies Shiv Sena and Congress are in opposition over the issue. Center is also with the Congress party over the issue and has alleged Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerayy to focus on developmental issues rather on to emotional issues.
Aurangabad was built by Malik Ambar in 15th century when Aurangzeb took over the Mughal Empire. He made the city capital of his empire and named it after his name. He tortured and killed the son of Maratha Warrior Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj who was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Aurangabad where he lived until his last breath.
The reason behind renaming the city Sambhaji Nagar is because of the founder of Shiv Sena Balasaheb Thackeray who expanded the Party influence beyond Mumbai. Due to this influence the party got victory in 1998 and in the victory rally Balasaheb Thackeray renamed it as Sambhaji Nagar where Maratha warrior was captivated and tortured till his death said former MP of Shiv Sena, Chandrakant Khaire.
Later the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra asked people their opinion regarding the renaming of the city but the Congress Corporator Mushtaq Ahmed challenged the move by taking it to the High Court by Municipal Corporation but the High Court disposed the matter. Mushtaq then took the complain to the Supreme Court whih stayed on the matter. But later the Congress – NCP alliance came to power in 1999 so the matter was taken down. Now Mushtaq Ahmed who is an NCP member said that if MVA starts the renaming of the city then he will take the matter to the court again.
The BJP has alleged Shiv Sena for keeping old promise with new allies, like the NCP and now Congress. Moreover of challenging its Hindutva ideology also. By doing this the BJP is trying to instigate the Shiv sena to bring a change in a bid to corner the party.
Proposal for renaming of Aurangabad airport to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Mharaj airport was approved by Maharashtra Cabinet in march last year and the Divisional Commissioner also sent a report of renaming the city as well to the government but failed to get any nod from the center.
The MP of the Aurangabad city Imtiaz Jaleel of AIMIM who defeated the Shiv Sena MP Chanrakant Khaire in 2019 said that the decision of renaming the city ahead the civil polls is a strategic move.
