Mumbai: From early morning, Shivaji Park Gymkhana was preparing for the next act in the Shiv Sena's long-running family drama as suppporters of Bal Thackeray's nephew gathered outside his residence.
When Raj Thackeray finally broke his silence, the split in the Sena's first family was complete. "I have quit from party posts after making too many compromises, today I?m quitting from the party," the Shiv Sena rebel said.
At the event, Bal Thackeray's nephew and former confidante Raj confessed: "The decision is well thought through and very painful."
Raj also read out the contents a letter he had written to Sena supremo Bal Thackeray earlier: "The Shiv Sena was formed four decades ago and it has expanded because of your presence. The entire organisation is controlled by Uddhav Thackeray and his confidants. This has been happening for the past six to seven years."
The target of Raj's attack remained his cousin and the Sena' working president Udhav Thackeray, who he said was unfit to lead the party.
"In the last few years, the party responsibility was given to Uddhav, but the morale of all Sainiks is low because of his leadership. Shouldn?t he be held responsible?," he said.
"We understand you are under immense pressure. You have entrusted Uddhav with the responsibilty for the Sena, but what about accountibility?" he asked.
Raj also said in his statement that every Shiv Sainik in Maharashtra believed Uddhav was incapable of leading the Sena fortress. "You need to take over or empower someone to lead the Sena in a way that it was established," he said.
Raj has said that he would reveal the nature and structure of his new outfit after he tours the entire state.
But as the news of his exit spread, the mood outside Bal Thackeray's residence Matoshree was one of shock. Barring a few Uddhav?s supporters, the home of the Sena chief wore a deserted look.
Meanwhile, his cousin Uddhav Thackeray maintains Raj?s departure will not affect the Shiv Sena and is hopeful that Raj will return to the party fold in future.
Though he kept a brave front by claiming that Shiv Sena was above any individual, Udhav said, "Raj had misunderstood us, we have made efforts, we feel upset that Raj has taken this decision."
All this happened due to miscommunication and people like Narayan Rane are responsible for fuelling the situation, alleged Uddhav.
Meanwhile, the NCP and Congress have been playing the wait and watch game as they eye recent developments in the Sena camp.
"This move will weaken the Shiv Sena even more. It is becoming a minority party." Narayan Rane, Congress leader, who was expelled from Shiv Sena said.
On being asked whether he would exploit this opportunity and convince Raj to join the Congress party, Rane said: "If he is ready to accept Sonia Gandhi?s leadership, his proposal can be considered."
PAGE_BREAK
Raj had resigned from the Shiv Sena working committe a few weeks ago after serious differences with cousin Uddhav Thackeray?s political idelogies.
He had also alleged that the Sena was being run by a coterie around supremo Bal Thackeray. But Raj had always been careful not to express his grievances in public.
However, with the Sena supremo announcing his retirement from active politics, and after the appointment of his son Udhav as the heir, Raj Theckeray's isolation within the Sena seemed complete.
"I'm suffering because of wrong decisions of some Sena leaders. I am not fighting Balasaheb but people around him," Raj had said.
Raj has been gathering quiet support ever since the break-up with the Sena. He had, however, met Bal Thackeray two days ago to work out a compromise formula. But, nothing came of it.
Raj Thackeray came up as the new youth leader of Shiv Sena in the early 90s. And since then he played a crucial role in scripting the rise of Sena across Maharashtra.
Since 1980's, Raj had been close to the party workers and leaders. A cartoonist, like his uncle, Raj was appointed president of Sena's student wing-- Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena in 1989.
But the appointment of Uddhav as executive president of Shiv Sena in 2001 intensified the cold war between the cousins.
The differences between Raj and Uddhav came to open in 2003 when Raj launched his "Parprantiya Hatao" campaign in response to Uddhav's "Mee Mumbaikar" movement.
Later in the day, as Raj made his way to the Siddhivinayak temple to seek blessings, he promised to stand by the interests of Maharashtrians, a claim ironically that was first made by his uncle 40 years ago.
Raj Thackeray?s exit from the Shiv Sena is the final straw in the party?s gradual downfall in the state.
For Raj, this fresh start would be a litmus test for his leadership and the mass base support that he enjoys.
(With inputs from Mandar Phanse, Raksha Shetty and Prachi Jatania.)
Comments
0 comment