Mumbai, June 19: Uddhav Thackeray addressed the ongoing rifts within the Shiv Sena during the party’s 60th anniversary celebration in Mumbai on Friday. He dismissed claims that he is desperate to cling to power.
Facing rebellion from six Lok Sabha MPs, Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), stated, “I did not enter politics to forcibly hold onto a position. As long as the millions of Shiv Sainiks standing with me want me to lead, I will continue to fight. However, the moment you, the true workers of Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena, tell me it’s time to go, I will resign from the party presidency without hesitation.”
He clarified the distinction between his relationship with loyal party workers and the actions of the defecting MPs. Thackeray accused these MPs of negotiating behind closed doors for cabinet positions and betraying their loyalty for personal gain.
During the party’s foundation day rally, he targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the faction led by Eknath Shinde. This speech came amid fresh reports of division within Thackeray’s camp, with six MPs reportedly adopting a rebellious stance.
In an emotional address to party workers, Thackeray apologized to voters for the actions of the defecting leaders, reminding the crowd that these individuals won elections based on grassroots support. “I apologize to the voters in the regions where this betrayal has occurred. During the Modi wave, people trusted us and voted for these individuals. We were often criticized for our MPs winning solely due to Modi’s face, but this time, our nine MPs won without relying on that. So why this ongoing horse-trading? How hungry can one be for power?”
Responding to continuous political attacks against himself and his family, Thackeray defended his decision to accept the chief minister‘s position in 2019, stating he was compelled to do so after the BJP reneged on its promises.
He questioned the selective criticism directed at the Thackeray family’s residence, Matoshree. “Today, I am being targeted. My wife is criticized, and Aditya and Tejas are also in the line of fire. I accepted the chief minister’s responsibility because the BJP betrayed us. Should Matoshree bear everything? You become ministers, you become MPs, your children become MLAs, yet Matoshree is expected to remain silent? We do not want such a system.”
Thackeray sharply criticized the alleged inducements promoting political defection and compared it to the plight of Maharashtra’s agricultural sector.
On political corruption, he remarked, “Our party workers toil at the grassroots level while these people enjoy boxes filled with money. Farmers in the state do not receive their minimum support price (MSP), yet the defecting MPs seem to have a guaranteed ‘support price’.”
Regarding crop loan waivers, Thackeray criticized the state’s financial aid packages, stating, “The loan waiver I provided is completely deceptive. Farmers say they would rather die than accept such fraudulent waivers.”
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