If it is forced to choose between sycophancy and feeding hungry farmers, the Shiv Sena seems to prefer — or at least prioritise — the former.

Let them eat cake: Clearly ignoring Shinde’s emotional appeal to help farmers, his followers left no stone unturned to put up illegal hoardings and banners wishing him on his birthday.

For, despite Thane Guardian Minister and senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde explicitly asking his party workers and followers to refrain from putting up illegal hoardings and banners for his birthday and, instead, send the money to feed struggling farmers in the state, many parts of Thane district were swamped in illegal hoardings yesterday.