Thackeray and Shinde spoke at separate events in Mumbai commemorating the 60th anniversary of the united Shiv Sena. Notably, none of the discontented Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) attended either event.
Speaking at his party’s gathering at Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion, Thackeray emphasized that he remains determined to face challenges and adversities.
Addressing the looming split within his party for the second time in four years, Thackeray shared that he has led the organization for over a decade and, in light of constant attacks against him, is prepared to step down from his position as head of Shiv Sena (UBT).
“If someone within the party ascends to the position of the next Shiv Sena president, I would probably be content, but I will never allow it to fall into the hands of thieves,” an emotional Thackeray expressed to his supporters.
He asserted that he doesn’t crave leadership and is willing to give up his role as president, but cautioned against letting the party be taken over by “traitors.”
Thackeray mentioned that he has borne the weight of leading the party for the last 12 to 13 years, encountering numerous challenges and personal attacks along the way.
“If the accusations against me are truthful, I am prepared to resign. I have no desire for leadership,” he reiterated.
Thackeray expressed that his commitment remains unshaken as he continues to tackle all challenges.
“However, I don’t want any Shiv Sainik to blame me for resigning as chief minister in 2022 and not continuing as MLC in 2026,” he remarked.
The former CM conveyed that workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) are not demoralized by the recent events, but instead are motivated, attempting to downplay the dissension within the party’s Lok Sabha faction.
Ignoring a party whip, six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) missed a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. The MPs who did not attend include Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure.
Continuing his address, Thackeray criticized the rebellious MPs for suggesting that they feared a possible merger of Shiv Sena (UBT) with the Congress.
“If we didn’t merge with the BJP despite being allies for 30 years, how could we merge with the Congress? I worry that the Maharashtra BJP might merge with the Shinde Sena,” he commented.
“Although we have had significant political differences with the Congress, they have never endeavored to destroy the Shiv Sena in the way the BJP is attempting,” he emphasized.
The former CM apologized to the electorate for supporting these MPs, who seem poised to switch parties.
Thackeray responded to critics within his political circle who often question his leadership style and alleged disconnect with party members and the public.
“If I hadn’t taken the initiative to meet party workers and traveled across the state, how did they win elections? During the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, I conducted seven to ten meetings in each constituency. The rebels became MPs thanks to the trust of Shiv Sainiks and voters,” he assured.
“The Shiv Sena was not established to merge with anyone. It was founded to champion the rights of the Marathi people and safeguard Hindutva,” Thackeray said, adding that he accepted the role of chief minister in 2019 out of a sense of duty, as the BJP had “betrayed” the united Shiv Sena.
Thackeray warned that the country is veering towards a “one party, no election” scenario, which undermines democracy.
He argued that the BJP’s “defection engineering” tactics threaten democratic principles and cautioned that public faith in the electoral process is deteriorating.
Addressing the Shiv Sena’s founding day event at NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, party president and deputy CM Shinde, seemingly alluding to speculations about rebellious Sena (UBT) MPs switching alliances, stated that this is merely a preview of what’s to come, hinting at additional defections from the opposing faction.
Shinde directed his words at Thackeray, suggesting that introspection is necessary regarding why people are distancing themselves from him.
“This is just the beginning; more developments will follow. Just watch what unfolds next (Yeh too sirf trailer tha. Picture abhi baaki hain. Aage aage dekho hota hain kya),” he remarked, in the context of ‘Operation Tiger’, hinting at more public representatives possibly leaving the Shiv Sena (UBT).
A significant portion of Shinde’s assertive speech, which lasted nearly an hour, was aimed at disparaging Thackeray.
Without explicitly naming the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, he stated that a wolf does not transform into a tiger by merely donning a tiger’s skin.
“These wolves threatened me when I instigated the revolt against Thackeray in 2022,” Shinde claimed.
He contended that one cannot claim affiliation with Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray through mere blood ties, emphasizing that the party is not merely a piece of land.
Shinde insisted that the politics of those who have neglected the saffron flag are no more, asserting that those preserving Bal Thackeray’s ideals are being unjustly criticized.
In his attack on Thackeray, Shinde asserted that a general must not stay at home but must engage in battle. He claimed to be a leader who fights from the front.
Without mentioning Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, a Thackeray ally who has been vociferously criticizing the rebel MPs, Shinde remarked, “some dogs may bark, but a tiger roars and hunts.”
On Raut’s disparagement of rebel MPs, the Deputy Chief Minister pointed out, “You insult them in the morning and then speak kindly about them by evening.” Shinde also took aim at the Opposition INDIA bloc and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
He noted that Gandhi remains the captain of his team, despite repeated electoral failures.
The former CM mentioned that parties like Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD, and DMK have experienced electoral defeats whenever they have allied with the Congress.
Shinde praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 12 years in office, marking a milestone as the longest-serving elected prime minister of India, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru.
