Editing Shiv Sena (section)

===Structure===
The Shiv Sena (SS) was led by a president, traditionally referred to as the "''Shiv Sena Pramukh''", ({{Translation|Chief}}) which translates to "Shiv Sena Chief" in English.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2003-03-27 |title=The Official Structure of the Shiv Sena |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/25874/chapter/193560980 |language=en |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195660449.005.0002|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 }}</ref> Bal Thackeray served as the first Shiv Sena ''Pramukh'' and took all major decisions while the activists and members of the Shiv Sena, known as Shiv ''Sainiks'', ({{Translation|Soldiers}}) carried out most of the party's grassroots work. During his last days, the day-to-day activities of the party were handled by his youngest son Uddhav Thackeray, who succeeded him as party leader after his death in 2012.

Shiv Sena formed a network of grassroots organizations, known as "''Shiv Sena Shakhas''" ({{Translation|Branch}}). The ''Shakhas'' serve as the primary unit of the party, with each ''Shakha'' consisting of 25-50 members. The ''Shakhas'' were responsible for carrying out the party's activities at the grassroots level, such as mobilizing voters during elections, organizing protests and rallies, and engaging in community service activities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Purandare |first=Vaibhav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JS1hBAAAQBAJ&q=Shiv+sena+Shakha |title=Bal Thackeray & The Rise of the Shiv Sena |date=2013-02-27 |publisher=Roli Books Private Limited |isbn=978-81-7436-991-8 |language=en}}</ref>

In addition to the ''Shakhas'', the party has various other organizational structures, including the ''Yuva Sena'', ({{Translation|Youth Army}}) party's youth wing, and the ''Mahila Aghadi'', the party's women's wing. The Shiv Sena is also affiliated with the [[Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti]],<ref name="Business India">{{cite book |title=Business India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f69IAAAAYAAJ |access-date=24 February 2012 |year=1996 |publisher=A.H. Advani}}</ref> which advocates for the preservation of employment rights for [[Maharashtrians]] in Maharashtra.

Since the rebellion in 2022, the Shiv Sena under the leadership of Eknath Shinde has seen a significant restructuring, shifting away from the dynastic hold of the Thackeray family. Shinde's faction has aimed to revive the party's original ideology and strengthen its grassroots presence by reactivating and expanding the ''Shakhas'' across Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena redefines its organisational structure|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/eknath-shinde-revamps-shiv-sena-structure/article65672800.ece|date=2023-05-10|access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref> Shinde's leadership has emphasized inclusivity and outreach to various caste groups, consolidating the party's position as a broad-based regional force beyond the Thackeray family's legacy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shinde’s Shiv Sena emerges stronger post-rebellion|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shinde-shiv-sena-emerges-stronger-post-rebellion-4412345|date=2024-01-15|access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref> The faction also claims greater democratic decision-making within the party, with more leaders from diverse backgrounds taking up key roles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shinde government focuses on decentralizing Shiv Sena leadership|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/shinde-govt-focuses-on-decentralising-shiv-sena-leadership/articleshow/102594832.cms|date=2024-03-22|access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web  |title=The Wayback Machine has not archived that URL.  |website=[[The Times of India]]  |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sena-tussle-holds-key-lesson-for-dynasts-build-anew-or-implode/articleshow/92773414.cms  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710015430/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sena-tussle-holds-key-lesson-for-dynasts-build-anew-or-implode/articleshow/92773414.cms  |url-status=dead  |archive-date=10 July 2022  |access-date=2023-06-24  }}</ref>