People are surprised if I do not receive jolt: Uddhav Thackeray
Mr. Thackeray on Thursday removed party’s national spokesperson Kishore Tiwari from the post after he alleged that few senior leaders have “hijacked Matoshree”.
Mumbai: Reeling under continuous defections in the last three years, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has finally decided to take steps to steady the ship. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said his condition has become like Japan — people are surprised if he does not get a shock (of defection from the party) some day and promised to give one shock to his opponents which they cannot forget. Mr. Thackeray has also decided to undertake a state-wide tour to meet party workers and strengthen the organisation.
Addressing a group of party workers at his residence ‘Matoshree’, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said, “I have been given many shocks. Now I have become a ‘dhakka purush’ (shock man). In Japan, people are surprised if there are no earthquakes. Similarly, people are surprised if Uddhav Thackeray does not receive a jolt. Let’s see who gives how many shocks. Because when my time comes, there will be one shock that will not be forgotten.”
After Ekntath Shinde’s rebellion in June 2022, when he left Mr. Thackeray along with 40 MLAs and formed a government with the BJP, several party workers and leaders have continued to switch their loyalties to Mr. Shinde. Office bearers and leaders from various regions of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg have joined the Shinde camp.
According to reports, three more former MLAs and more than 20 former corporators in Pune are likely to join either Shinde-led Shiv Sena or BJP in coming days.
Mr. Thackeray on Thursday removed party’s national spokesperson Kishore Tiwari from the post after he alleged that few senior leaders have “hijacked Matoshree”. Expressing his displeasure over the party’s decision, Mr. Tiwari said, “Karyakaratas are used like toilet paper in the party. I have no regrets. But I am surprised that such an action has been taken against me even though I have strongly defended the party in various debates on news channels.”
The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has also called meetings of party MLAs and MPs on Thursday evening and February 25. The meetings aim to address concerns of party leaders and prevent further defections.