Shiv Sena MP and party spokesperson Naresh Mhaske on Saturday condemned the use of artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of Balasaheb Thackeray during a recent rally in Nashik. Calling it a “digital fraud,” Mhaske demanded strict action against what he described as “a deceptive” and “unethical political stunt.”
“Whatever remains of Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena will stoop to any level for votes,” said Mhaske. “Tomorrow, they might even show Balasaheb in a green shawl and woollen cap using AI. It’s an insult to his legacy.”
Mhaske likened the rival faction to counterfeit goods. “Uddhav’s Sena is no longer a political force—it’s a Chinese product. And like all cheap imitations, the public has rejected it.”
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He accused Uddhav Thackeray of exploiting Balasaheb’s legacy for political gain. “There was once an insurance company slogan—‘Zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi.’ Uddhav Thackeray has done just that. He betrayed Balasaheb in life and continues to insult him after death. His so-called loyalty was always fake—just like the AI-generated voice he now uses.”
Mhaske further stated, “Uddhav Thackeray’s emotions are fake, his team is fake, and now his campaign is fake. That’s why he needs a fake voice. When political judgment fails, such imitation becomes the last resort.”
“If Balasaheb were alive, he would have strongly condemned Uddhav Thackeray in his own voice. He would have said—‘You are nurturing the very Congress I vowed to bury.’ He would have kicked Uddhav out for selling out the true Shiv Sena,” Mhaske asserted.
He went on to praise Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying, “No matter how much pebbles try to shine like diamonds, they never will. Eknath Shinde, who embodies Balasaheb’s true ideals, is the real diamond. We don’t need AI recreations—Balasaheb’s real voice lives on in our hearts and in the spirit of true Shiv Sainiks.”
Taking a final dig at Aaditya Thackeray, Mhaske said, “At least Uddhav Thackeray has his father’s legacy to distort and sell. But Aaditya—what legacy will you showcase? The many roles your father played and abandoned?”
