Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray may be down but not out. He took an aggressive posture and told the rebel MLAs that the party’s bow and arrow symbol will remain with it. Thackeray said he has consulted constitutional experts who told him that there can be a split in the legislature party but the original party stays and cannot be finished. ‘’The legislature party and the original party are two different entities. There should be no confusion over the symbol. Shiv sainiks should rest assured that the bow and arrow symbol will remain with us," he said. He added that ‘’Nobody can take away bow and arrow from Shiv Sena
Thackeray said the Supreme Court's verdict on the disqualification plea of 16 rebel MLAs scheduled to be given on July 11 would decide not just the future of Shiv Sena but also the future of Indian democracy.
He also dares rebel MLAs to face midterm elections in Maharashtra saying that people should be allowed to take a stand on toppling of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by him. Thackeray’s call came days after NCP chief Sharad Pawar had hinted at the mid term poll as the Shinde-Fadnavis government may fall in next six months due to internal contradictions and resentment.
Thackeray said the change of power in the state could have happened with grace and in a dignified manner in 2019 and not with "betrayal" as was done last week. He was referring to the Sena and BJP's parting of ways after the 2019 Assembly poll results over the issue of equal sharing of the Chief Minister’s post and also the portfolios between the two.
Thackeray slammed the rebel Shiv Sena group for keeping mum when the BJP targeted and "abused" him and his family in the last two-and-a-half years. ‘’You keep in touch with them and betray your own party like this," he said without naming Shinde.
Amid rising chorus from party MPs (Rahul Shewale and Rajendra Gavit) for supporting NDA nominee Draupadi Murmu in the Presidential election, Thackeray said he would take a decision on which candidate to support for the presidential election after consulting with the party MPs. Thackeray along with Maha Vikas Aghadi are expected to meet on July 17 to decide their joint strategy for the Presidential election. The opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha is expected to be present at the upcoming meeting.
Loyalty tours by Aaditya Thackeray
Yuva Sena chief and former minister Aaditya Thackeray from Friday launched ‘’loyalty’’ tours, especially in the constituencies of rebel MLAs. Aaditya has recently announced that he will travel extensively for the defeat of rebel MLAs in the next assembly elections.
