Shiv Sena (1966–2022)
Shiv Sena (meaning Army of Shiva, referring to Shivaji) is a political party in India founded on June 19, 1966 by Bal Thackeray who is the president of the party. It is a Hindu nationalist party, though it is strongly associated with Maratha identity. In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004), it had 15 (out of 545) members.
The party was formed to fight for the rights of native Maharashtrians. It targeted South Indians living in Bombay and later Gujaratis and Muslims as it tried to propagate Bal Thackeray's idea that Bombay belonged to Maharashtrians only.
Shiv Sena has its employment cell Shiv Udyog Sena. Bharatiya Kamgar Sena ("Indian worker's army"), a labour union, is affiliated to the Shiv Sena. The Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena ("Indian students' army") is the Shiv Sena's student wing.
In 1998, Shiv Sainiks attacked movie theatres in Bombay over a controversial film with a lesbian theme, forcing it to be withdrawn. In 1999, they vandalised a cricket pitch in Delhi to stop the Pakistani cricket team from playing there.
See also: List of political parties in India, Politics of India
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