Uddhav declines Sena supremo title

Uddhav Thackeray, son of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, and the party’s executive president, has declined to take over as the new Shiv Sena Pramukh. Instead, Uddhav, in his maiden interview to the party’s mouthpiece Saamna, categorically said no one can replace Bal Thackeray as the Shiv Sena Pramukh. Uddhav added that Bal Thackeray will continue to remain the party supremo.

Uddhav said that Shiv Sena would continue fighting for Marathi manoos and Hindutva. He added the controversy over Bal Thackeray’s memorial is unwarranted. It is for the first time that Uddhav has made in public his view on the controversy over Bal Thackeray’s memorial.

 

Former Maharashtra CM Manohar Joshi has been at the forefront of demanding the memorial to be developed at the sprawling Shivaji Park in north central Mumbai, where the latter was cremated.

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

Meanwhile, Uddhav will embark on a Maharashtra Yatra starting Monday in western Maharashtra’s Kolhapur, where he will meet party workers as well as leaders. 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, on December 7 in Ratnagiri, on December 14 in Nagpur and on December 16 in Aurangabad. During those days, Thackeray will meet activists from 35 districts of the state, besides workers of the Yuva Sena, headed by his son Aditya.