During the 60th foundation day celebrations of Shiv Sena in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray expressed his readiness to resign as the party president if the members lose faith in his leadership. His statement comes amidst growing speculation about a potential division within Shiv Sena (UBT), as some speculate that a number of Members of Parliament may switch allegiance to the faction led by Eknath Shinde.
Thackeray addressed the party workers, expressing his openness to a new leader rising from within the party, while firmly opposing any takeover by those he termed as ‘betrayers.’ He apologized to the voters who had supported candidates under his leadership and voiced his concern over the reported defections.
The former Chief Minister also launched a strong critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of attempting to destabilize and dismantle Shiv Sena. Thackeray painted a picture of India’s political scenario moving towards a one-party dominance, hinting at the BJP’s overarching influence.
Further, he discussed the Shiv Sena’s relationship with the Congress, noting that despite their long-standing political differences, the Congress had never attempted to eradicate Shiv Sena. However, he dismissed the idea of merging with the Congress, emphasizing that Shiv Sena was established to advocate for the interests of the Marathi people.