Uddhav Thackeray on Monday skipped the unveiling of his father, Shiv Sena supremo late Balasaheb Thackeray’s portrait at the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan. In attendance, though, were Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, Union Minister Narayan Rane and leaders of opposition Ajit Pawar and Ambadas Danve.
Their speeches recalled Balasaheb’s career as a politician, cartoonist, strong advocate of Hindutva and a leader who stuck to his words without bothering about impact on his politics. Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, Mr Shinde and Mr Rane criticised his style of functioning vis-à-vis his father and how it led to the present state of the party founded in 1966.
Mr Shinde said, “We formed the government following the teachings of Balasaheb Thackeray of fighting against injustice with courage and self-respect.” He added that Balasaheb never compromised on his ideology to grab power. “We learned this from him and we are working on his ideals,” he proclaimed.
Mr Rane said he joined the Shiv Sena not for power or post but “for the true spirit, for the sake of Hindutva and Marathi population”. He said, “I won’t comment on today’s Shiv Sena workers. I don’t know about others.”
He noted that he was given the CM’s post by Balasaheb Thackeray bypassing many leaders in the party. “I did not take cognisance of cats and duplicate tigers and continue to do that even today,” he said taking a dig at Uddhav Thackeray.
Mr Rane’s comments, however, were not taken lightly by Deputy Chairperson of State Council Neelam Gorhe, who questioned Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar from the dais about the manner in which the Union Minister was making political comments. Unfazed, Mr Rane said that he doesn’t listen to people who talk while sitting.
The suggestion for Balasaheb Thackeray’s portrait to be displayed in the Central Hall was made by Mr Shinde and Mr Fadnavis during the monsoon session to Mr Narwekar.
