“Unlike the earlier rebellions, this coup is to finish off the Shiv Sena forever. They have hired professional agencies to counter us. This is a battle between money and loyalty,” Mr. Thackeray said.
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has said that unlike previous rebellions in the party, the revolt this time was aimed at “finishing off” the Sena.
“The Sena indulges in politics for Hindutva, whereas the BJP uses Hindutva for its political interests, Mr. Thackeray claimed while addressing the Sena workers on Sunday during the inauguration of a ward-level party office in south Mumbai.
Last month, the then Sena loyalist Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators rebelled against the party leadership, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Mr. Shinde took oath as the Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
“Unlike the earlier rebellions, this coup is to finish off the Shiv Sena forever. They have hired professional agencies to counter us. This is a battle between money and loyalty,” Mr. Thackeray said.
Mr. Thackeray, who will turn 62 in two days on July 27, said this time he does not want bouquets on his birthday, but affidavits from the Shiv Sena workers that they trust the party and more and more registrations of people as party members.
“The battle is now also taken to the Election Commission of India, claiming they are the original Shiv Sena. We need not just vigor, but staunch support and registration of people as party members,” Mr. Thackeray added.
Mr. Thackeray without taking any name targeted his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who had reportedly said he would consider allowing the 40 Sena rebel MLAs to merge into his party if needed.
“I know there is an offer made to these people. I do not know what type of ‘chemical locha’ (imbalance) is this, but these people have no idea whom they have messed up with,” the former CM said.
Mr. Thackerey further Referred to the rebel MLAs, and said, “I do not know what to call you.”, “This is the stamp on their head and they will have to carry it with them wherever they go. They have earned it by their actions. Despite being representatives of people, they are moving around with protection from the central government.”
The crowd was quick to respond shouting “traitors”.
“This is the stamp on their head and they will have to carry it with them wherever they go. They have earned it by their actions. Despite being representatives of people, they are moving around with protection from the central government.”Mr. Thackeray added.
Appealing to the people Mr. Thackeray said “The Sena turned ordinary people into extraordinary” and that is how these 40 (rebel) MLAs won the election. Now it is time to repeat it with a new set of Shiv Sena workers.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
