Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray skipped the inauguration of the H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Saturday.
Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai said, “Due to Bhau beej today, Uddhavji couldn’t attend the programme.”
Mr Desai also clarified that Mr Thackeray would not be going to New Delhi to attend the Prime Minister’s dinner with National Democratic Alliance MPs on Sunday.
“There is no issue of him attending the party,” he said. Mr Desai was one of two Sena MPs who had visited Delhi to hold talks with BJP leaders recently.
Another Shiv Sena MP, Vinayak Raut, added that no meeting has so far been scheduled between Mr Thackeray and Mr Modi. “We haven’t had any talks with the BJP regarding Mr Modi’s meeting with Uddhav Thackeray. For now, I can only say that all the Sena MPs will be attending the Diwali dinner tomorrow,” he said.
Asked if Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut thought the BJP wanted to form a government without the Sena’s support, Mr Raut said that would be their decision. "Mr Thackeray is keenly observing every development. He is well poised to take a decision that will be good for the future of the Sena," he said.
There had been unconfirmed reports that Mr Thackeray would fly to New Delhi to meet Mr Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah during Diwali.
However, that did not happen, and Mr Thackeray has shown no inclination to visit Delhi so far.
