Uddhav Thackeray has expressed his readiness to resign as president of Shiv Sena (UBT) if party workers lose faith in his leadership, amid rising speculation about a potential divide within the party. During the 60th-anniversary celebration of Shiv Sena’s foundation in Mumbai, Thackeray addressed party members and emphasized his openness to a new leader emerging from within the party’s ranks. However, he firmly stated he would not allow the party to fall into the control of what he termed as “betrayers.”
These remarks come in the wake of reports suggesting that several Shiv Sena (UBT) Members of Parliament might be shifting their allegiance to the faction led by Eknath Shinde. Thackeray expressed regret to the voters who supported candidates under his leadership and conveyed his disappointment over the rumored defections.
In a critical address, Thackeray accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately trying to weaken and dismantle Shiv Sena. He voiced concerns that the political framework of India is drifting towards a single-party dominance, which he implied was being orchestrated by the BJP.
Discussing Shiv Sena’s historical relationship with the Congress, Thackeray acknowledged the long-standing political rivalry but pointed out that the Congress had never attempted to eradicate Shiv Sena. He dismissed the idea of merging with the Congress, reiterating that Shiv Sena was established to advocate for the interests of the Marathi-speaking population.