"Those who wish can leave; I will form a new Shiv Sena": Uddhav Thackeray

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• Jun 25, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Thackeray added that he was prepared to step down as party leader if Sena members believed he was unfit to lead the party...

Digital Desk: Making a defiant statement, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray challenged rebel leader Eknath Shinde and the BJP on Friday night to try and take away the Shiv Sena cadre and supporters, as well as accused the BJP of trying to put an end to the Sena. 

In a virtual address to party officials, he claimed that the common Shiv Sena members were his "wealth" and that as long as they were with him, he did not care what other people thought of him.   

He claimed that the Shiv Sena had been "betrayed by its own people" since his government was in disarray following the majority of Sena MLAs joining Eknath Shinde, who is currently camped in Guwahati.

"Even though many of you were candidates for the same assembly seats, we awarded these rebels tickets to run in the elections. These individuals are frustrated because they were elected because of your efforts, and you are supporting the party at this critical juncture. I'm really grateful to you," Shiv Sena's president, Thackeray, said to the party members.

"I had authorized Eknath Shinde to investigate grievances involving alliance members. He informed me that lawmakers pressured him to form a partnership between the Shiv Sena and the BJP. So, I asked him to bring these MLAs over to discuss it. The BJP mistreated us and broke its promises. Cases have been brought against many of the rebels. So, if they join the BJP, they will become morally upright; if they stick with us, they will serve time in prison. Is this a friendly gesture?"  Thackery asked.

Thackeray added that he was prepared to step down as party leader if Sena members believed he was unfit to lead the party.

Further, he added that the late Bal Thackeray had mainly started the alliance with the BJP to prevent a split in Hindutva votes. "Shiv Sena is an ideology... BJP wants to finish it off because they don't want to share the Hindu vote bank with anyone," he claimed.

According to him, the rebel group has no choice except to join the BJP, and even if it is successful in forming a government, it won't survive long because many of its MLAs aren't satisfied.

 The rebels will not win the next election, Thackeray claimed.

Moreover, he criticized Shinde and the BJP and challange them to try and win back Shiv Sena supporters.

"You removed those who won elections. But if you have the guts, try to remove people who helped you win the election," he said.

"Those who wish to leave are allowed to do so openly; I will form a new Shiv Sena," Thackeray stated.