Mumbai, July 18 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva and Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology.

Shinde alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT)'s invocation of Lord Ram was aimed at protecting the party's political interests, claiming it was not driven by devotion but by electoral compulsions.

Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Thackeray, along with party workers, held a Ram Raksha Stotra recitation at Ram Mandir, Ram Nagar, in Nagpur. Party leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were also present.

Speaking to ANI, Maharashtra Dy CM said, "Those who called Ram bhakts (devotees) 'haramkhor' (scoundrels), who stated right inside the House, in the Assembly s...