Uddhav Thackeray Reacts On Turnover In Shiv Sena And The Upcoming Verdict In His First Appearance After Resigning As CM

Mumbai, 8th July 2022: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appeared before the public on Friday for the first time after resigning.

He made it clear that no one can take away the ‘bow-arrow’ symbol of Shiv Sena. After the change of power in the state, there was speculation that the freshly appointed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction could claim the election symbol of Shiv Sena. At the same time, the MLAs who were staying in Guwahati during the rebellion had also mentioned forming a new party as Shiv Sena Balasaheb.

On Friday, Thackeray thanked the remaining party leaders for their support. He also said that it is not the first time the party has faced such a rebellion. Thackeray also said that MLAs arrive and leave, but that does not end the party’s existence.

He also made it clear, “There is no doubt about the party’s symbol of bow and arrow. It belongs to Shiv Sena and always will belong to Shiv Sena.”

However, the decision on this will be taken by the Election Commission of India. The matter has not reached the Commission yet.

After the mutiny in MLAs, news of the councillors changing sides came from Thane and Navi Mumbai. A large number of councillors in both areas had expressed support for CM Shinde.

To this Thackeray reacted, “The councillors who were with Eknath Shinde stuck with him. Those who became big with the help of Shiv Sena have left, but those who made Shiv Sena big are still here.”

Thackeray also took a jibe at the rebel MLAs saying, “Those people are sitting with the people who had insulted the Shiv Sena and Thackeray family.”

Another threat is lingering around Thackeray that after the MLAs, the possibility of the party’s MPs changing sides is also being expressed. One of the rebels, Gulabrao Patil had claimed that 12 out of 18 MPs may think about this decision.

Further, Thackeray has raised the demand for elections in the state. He said, “Today, I will challenge those people for the assembly elections. If we have done wrong, people will decide and send us home. But if this is what was required to do, you should have done it two and a half years ago and things would have happened with respect. There was no need to take such a decision now.”

Uddhav Thackeray further expressed, “I am proud of the 15-16 MLAs who stuck by me and Shiv Sena despite the threats they received from the opposition. Our country runs on the core value of Satyamev Jayate and not on Asatyamev Jayate. The Supreme Court verdict coming on July 11 will not only decide the future of Shiv Sena but will also decide Indian democracy.”

The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking disqualification of the 16 MLAs.