Uddhav refuses to be Shiv Sena Pramukh

Says that no one can replace Bal Thackeray

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray has declined to take over as the new Shiv Sena Pramukh following death of Bal Thackeray last month. Instead, Uddhav in his maiden interview to the party's moutpiece "Saamna" categorically said no one can replace Bal Thackeray as Shiv Sena Pramukh. Uddhav added Bal Thackeray will continue to remain the party supremo.

Uddhav said Shiv Sena would continue fighting for "Marathi Manoos" and "Hindutva." At the same time, Uddhav said the present controversy over Bal Thackeray's memorial was unwarranted. It is for the first time that Uddhav has made in public his view on the controversy over Bal Thackeray's memorial as pressed by the Shiv Sena members. Former Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi and party spokesman Sanjay Raut have been at the forefront demanding Bal Thackeray's memorial to be developed at the sprawling Shivaji park in north central Mumbai where the latter was cremated.

However, the ruling Congress party has strongly opposed the demand saying that no 'other' memorial should come up at the Shivaji Park. "Shivaji Maharaj is a god for people of Maharashtra. His memorial is already there at Shivaji Park," Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Manikrao Thakre said.

Meanwhile, Uddhav will embark on a Maharashtra Yatra starting Monday in western Maharashtra's Kolhapur, where he will meet party workers and elected representatives from local bodies to Parliament. This will be his first independent attempt to reach out and strengthen his rapport with the Sena's rank and file after Thackeray's death last month.

Similar meetings for various regions shall be held on December 5 in Nashik, December 7 in Ratnagiri, December 14 in Nagpur and December 16 in Aurangabad. During those five days, Thackeray will meet activists from all the 35 districts of the state, besides workers of the Yuva Sena, headed by his son, Aditya, and other party organisations.