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Uddhav Thackeray targeted the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s group for stealing his party’s name and slogan, and also lashed out at the Election Commission.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray (Image: PTI)
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray asserted that ‘Thackeray’ was not just a brand but an identity of Maharashtra, Marathi citizens and Hindu pride, adding that some people are trying to finish it off.
In an interview with UBT Sena’s mouthpiece “Saamana“, Uddhav said, “Thackerays are not like inflated balloons that you often see in politics these days. We haven’t made Thackeray a brand; people have accepted it as they know that we are selfless and honest towards the people of Maharashtra.”
Thackeray means constant struggle, he asserted, in the first part of the interview with party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut published on Saturday.
“Thackeray is not just a brand, but it is also a name attached to Hindutva,” he said. “Thackeray is not just a brand. It is the identity of Marathi manoos, Maharashtra and Hindu pride. However, some people are trying to finish the Thackeray brand. These are the same people who are comparing themselves with God.”
Uddhav also mentioned that he did not have anything today, including the symbol and name of the original Shiv Sena, but people still welcome him with warmth. Without taking any names, he targeted Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, accusing it of stealing the symbol and party name and aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party to finish him off.
‘Deep Roots In Marathi Soil’
“Our deep roots in the Marathi soil go back several generations. The ties with Marathi people are strong since the time of my grandfather and Shiv Sena pramukh (Bal Thackeray). Now, I am there, Aaditya (Thackeray) is there, and even (MNS chief) Raj has come,” he said.
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray stood shoulder-to-shoulder on stage at the July 5 ‘Marathi Vijay Rally’ to present a united front, although there has been little progress in forming an alliance, despite strong speculation. They have been using the phrase ‘Thackeray brand’ as a symbol of Marathi unity.
The former Maharashtra CM also accused the BJP of operating a ‘divide and rule’ policy and engineering a split in the Shiv Sena in 2022. He stated that the BJP consistently tries to destabilise society by sowing divisions between various religions and castes.
In June 2022, a faction led by senior leader Eknath Shinde broke away from the Shiv Sena, accusing Uddhav Thackeray of abandoning the party’s core Hindutva ideology by aligning with the Congress and NCP. This culminated in the collapse of Thackeray’s government and the formation of a new government with the support of the BJP.
“You can steal a party’s symbol. But how can you steal the love and trust people have for the family?” Uddhav said in the interview with Saamana. He also lashed out at the Election Commission, saying it had no right to take away the party name and symbol as his party did not indulge in any corrupt practices.
The Supreme Court will hear Uddhav Thackeray’s plea challenging the Election Commission’s decision to allot the official name and symbol (‘bow and arrow’) of Shiv Sena to Eknath Shinde’s group on August 11.
(with PTI inputs)
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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