Mumbai: Uddhav To Tour Rebel Strongholds To Rebuild Sena (UBT)

Thackeray held a meeting of district chiefs and key office-bearers to assess the situation facing the party organization following the departure of six MPs. During the meeting, the organizational status of the respective constituencies was reviewed in detail. According to party sources, Thackeray instructed the office-bearers to ensure that Shiv Sainiks remain loyal to the party and further strengthen the organization, even in the wake of the rebellion.

Against this backdrop, Thackeray himself has decided to take to the field and interact directly with party workers. Rallies, meetings and organizational reviews have been scheduled for the Washim-Yavatmal, Hingoli, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Shirdi constituencies. Additionally, a tour of the North-East Mumbai region has been finalized.

The itinerary includes visits to Yavatmal, Washim and Hingoli on June 27, followed by Parbhani and Dharashiv on June 28 and Shirdi on June 29.

This will be Thackeray’s first major campaign to demonstrate organizational strength by visiting the constituencies of MPs who have parted ways with the party. The tour is seen as an attempt to intensify the political battle against the rebel MPs. Revitalizing the party cadre and issuing a direct political challenge to the rebels are considered the primary objectives behind this tour, said a party insider.

The six Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) who have rebelled against the party leadership are Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East) and Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv)

Thackeray has termed the defectors ‘traitors’ and even offered to step down as party chief if grassroots workers lost faith in his leadership. He urged local functionaries to focus on the fight ahead rather than fretting over those who betrayed the political front.